How To Prevent Your Riding Lawn Mower From Tipping Over

Riding mower accidents can be extremely serious, especially those that involve the mower tipping over. Not only can this potentially crush and injure the rider, but it also exposes the dangerous mechanisms underneath. Overturn incidents can occur when mowing on hills, over bumpy terrain, or when getting carried away with a zero turn mower. The good news is that preventing your riding mower from tipping over is fairly simple. By following manufacturers' recommendations and using the right technique, you can avoid accidents.

As with any piece of equipment, proper usage starts with reading over the manual. In the case of riding mowers, this will often include how to prepare your model for various conditions, so get ready for some light reading before you hop on your top-rated riding mower. For instance, some mowers recommend adding ballast to create more traction. In this vein, you should also be sure your mower is suitable for your lawn in the first place. If you have a lot of rough terrain on your property, a normal riding mower will be a better choice than a zero turn mower. You can also add attachments to your mower called rollover protective structures, or ROPS, that will minimize the damage an accident might cause. After you've ensured your mower is ready for action, you should check your yard for any large pieces of debris or animal burrows that could knock you off balance. You should also use extra caution if the grass is wet, which may make your mower slip.

Once you're actually on the mower, safety comes down to your driving technique. Operate the mower at a slow, steady pace. Avoid making sharp turns, pay attention to where you're going, and be sure to break these bad habits when using a riding lawn mower. If you have a relatively flat lawn and you are being careful, tipping over shouldn't be much of an issue. However, mowing on a slope is much more involved, and mowing on a steep hill may require a professional with better equipment and more experience.

When operating a riding mower at an angle, rolling over a small piece of debris or even just turning too quickly becomes even more dangerous than on flat land, especially if you have a full grass catcher. Plus, you run the risk of sliding down the hill, or simply toppling over due to being too top-heavy. To prevent this, never mow the hill horizontally. Working from side to side may seem easier on the mower, but it also increases the odds of it toppling down the hill.

Along with only driving the mower up and down the hill, you should also keep the mower facing towards the bottom of the hill. This means you will have to mow in reverse, but doing so will keep the mower's light front wheels on the ground. Sudden stopping and starting on a hill can also be unsafe, so make turns and stops only when on level ground. Riding lawn mowers can do a lot more than cut your grass, but regardless of how you use your machine, be sure to put safety first.