Snowmobile Lane Change Dynamics with One and Two Occupants

As with other motor vehicles, snowmobile operators are occasionally presented with potential hazards that require a response to avoid an impending collision. The typical responses involve either braking, steering, or a combination of both. Although the braking deceleration capabilities of snowmobiles have been documented in several published studies, there is a lack of available data regarding the swerving capability of snowmobiles. In addition, it is unknown if the presence of a passenger on a snowmobile negatively affects its swerving capabilities, and if so, to what extent. This paper presents data gathered during swerve testing conducted on an instrumented snowmobile in northern Ontario with two different operators, and with one and two occupants.