Thinking about buying a walk behind power lawn mower? Wondering what features to look for in order to maximize safety and ease of operation?

Here are some important features to look for when buying a power mower.

We Know: How to Buy A Safer Power Mower

Mandatory Features

In 1982, new safety features were mandated for power mowers by the federal government. Look for these required features when you shop for a power mower:

A feature that ensures that the rotary blade automatically stops within 3 seconds when you take your hand off the controls.
A foot shield feature that prevents any contact between your foot and the blade when you are walking behind the mower.
A warning label near the discharge chute of the mower cautioning users to keep their hands a feet away from the chute. The mower must also have a certification label with the inscription "Meets Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standards."

Additional Features You Want

Be sure to look for these additional safety features when shopping for a walk-behind lawn mower:

A mower that is easy to start.
Controls that are easy to reach and adjustable for different people.
Deflectors at the discharge chute that force objects that may be ejected to be thrown down, toward the ground, not up.
A mower where it’s easy to adjust the blade cutting height.
If you buy a model with a grass catcher bag, try getting a model where the rotary blade stops within three seconds after you release the controls, but the engine does not stop. That way you don’t have to keep restarting.