Rural Road Safety -- Tips for Making the Roads Safer for Farmers
Picture this -- you are sitting at a red light, traffic is backed up for miles, and you are running late for work. Your blood boils with anger as you look ahead and see a tractor. At this moment, you know that you will most likely be lectured by your boss after arriving at work.
Many people encounter this similar situation during the months of April through October. Whether they’re running late, impatient, or just have a need for speed, a piece of farm equipment tends to get in their way. As a result, these same individuals end up passing or tailgating the piece of farm machinery.
Machinery-related accidents are the cause for half of agricultural fatalities, and 24% of these deaths take place on a public road. The moment a farmer starts driving a piece of slow-moving equipment on the road, they are putting their life at risk.
As American farmers embark on their busiest season of the year, we would like to remind you of a few safety tips.
Watch Your Speed
Obviously, this is a good tip for driving anytime, and anywhere. Farm equipment is not as fast as your car -- but the farmer driving that tractor also has somewhere to be. Slow down and be cautious; it’s (by far) the easiest way to prevent issues on the roads.
Look for SMV Signs
A slow-moving vehicle sign (SMV) is required by law to be displayed on equipment that travels less than 25 mph. There are not many pieces of farm equipment that top out higher than that, so just about all of it will have one. If you see the orange triangle on the horizon, pay close attention to your surroundings.
Pass With Great Caution
If you choose to pass the machinery, make sure it is in a legal passing zone. As with all passing, make sure that you can comfortably pass the machine and get back into the correct lane safely. Additionally, be aware of the farmer’s blind spots, and keep alert while passing -- many machines have a tendency to sway.
Look for Flashing Lights and Reflective Tape
It can get a little trickier at night to see farm machinery on the roads. To combat that, most machines feature flashing lights on the left or right, and some even utilize reflective tape. Both of these serve as a way to help with visibility, so keep an eye out for them at nighttime.
Next time you are running late for work and behind a piece of farm machinery -- think first. That farmer has a family, a job, and a world to feed. Following each of these steps will save their life and yours.