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The Star Beacon
Sharing the
road safely
By David Marrison
Sep 11, 2016
With harvest season approaching, it is important to remember large farm
vehicles like these will soon be not only out in the fields but on the
roadways.
As we approach the fall season, there will be an increase of farm
equipment traveling on the roads.
Road safety is especially important as farmers and motorists share the
road during harvest season.
This is a good time to refresh both the motoring public and farmers
about some safe practices for traveling on public roads.
Vehicle collisions are often the result of the speed difference between
slower-moving farm equipment and passenger cars and trucks.
Many times the vehicle driver simply doesn’t have enough time to react
if they do not recognize the farm equipment soon enough.
It is critical for both farmers and motorists to do their part. Rural
road rage can be negated if everyone takes the responsibility to have
extra patience, careful driving habits and use high-visibility markings
and lighting.
For farmers, make sure your equipment has proper lighting and that a
slow moving vehicle (SMV) emblem is mounted to the last piece of
equipment being hauled.
The emblem should be pointed up, placed 2-6 feet above the ground and
as near to rear center as possible.
Make sure to stay alert at all times to avoid a serious accident.
Just as motorists should not text and drive their vehicle. Neither
should we in a tractor.
In fact, farmers should make it a rule to not use their cell phone or
two-way radio while operating equipment on public roads.
Always keep a constant lookout for pedestrians, animals, mailboxes,
steep ditch embankments and other roadway obstacles.
Make sure to slow down for sharp curves or when going down a hill. It
may be wish to use an escort vehicle to follow behind especially during
high traffic times in the mornings and late afternoons.
For motorists, please remember that farm machinery has a legal right to
use public roads just as other motor vehicles.
Farm machinery can unexpectedly turn onto a public road from a field or
driveway. Farm machinery travels slower than normal traffic, often at
speeds of 25 miles per hour or less.
When you first see a tractor or combine on the road, your first
instinct should be to slow down.
A car traveling at 55 mph can overtake and close a gap of 300 feet with
a tractor running 15 mph in just five seconds.
This is about the length of a football field which does not give you
much time.
Watch for farm equipment and slow down immediately to avoid rear end
crashes.
Farm machinery operators may not be able to see you because the large
equipment or a load can block part of their rearward view. Remember, if
you can’t see the driver, the driver can’t see you.
Before passing farm machinery, make to check to be sure the machinery
is not turning left.
Look for left turn lights or hand signals. If the machinery slows and
pulls toward the right side of the road, the operator is likely
preparing to make a wide left turn.
Likewise, sometimes to make a right turn with wide equipment, the
driver must fade to the left.
Also be on the look-out for roadside obstacles such as mailboxes,
bridges or road signs that may cause the machinery to move to the
center of the road.
Be sure there is adequate distance for you to safely pass.
For more information about rural roadway safety, visit the OSU Ag
Safety and Health website, http://agsafety.osu.edu.
To close, I would like to share a quote from Jeff Cooper who stated,
“Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you
hold in your hands.”
Have a good and safe day.
Read this and other articles at The Star Beacon
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