Safety Tips for Motorists and Farm Equipment

Public Service Announcement

With the fall harvest season upon us it means that farmers will be out harvesting crops and many farm vehicles will be sharing the rural roads with the flow of vehicle traffic. Farm equipment is allowed by law and most times must operate on roadways to get from their farm to fields. If you approach a piece of wide farm equipment, slow down and be patient. The farmer understands that your trip may be delayed and they most times will pull off the road at the first available safe location to allow you to pass.
Farm equipment may be wider than one lane, or in some cases wider than the road and travels at slow speeds, typically 10 to 15 mph. Patience is necessary to ensure the safety of motorists and operators of slow-moving farm equipment. We all have the obligation to share the road in a safe manner.

Safety tips for motorists following or approaching farm equipment

 Pass with caution if a farmer has pulled off the road to allow you to pass, or if they cannot pull off and you feel you can pass in a safe manner.

 Be watchful of motor vehicles behind you that may also try to pass.

 Do not pass if you must enter the oncoming traffic lane unless you can see clearly ahead of you and the vehicle you will pass.

 Do not pass if there are curves or hills ahead that may block your view or the view of oncoming vehicles.

 Do not pass in a designated “No Passing Zone” or within 100 feet of any intersection, railroad crossing or bridge.

 Do not assume that a farm vehicle that pulls to the right side of the road is going to let you pass. Due to the size of some farm implements, the farmer must use wide left-hand turns. If you are unsure, check for turn signals or operator hand signals. Also, check the left side of the road for driveways, gates or any place a farm vehicle might turn into.

 Do not assume the farmer can see you or knows you are there if you are following. Most operators are regularly checking traffic behind them and newer farm equipment is will equipped with mirrors but farmers must spend most of the time looking ahead to keep equipment safely on the road and watch for oncoming traffic.