Equipment and Rural Roadway Safety

Today’s theme for National Farm Safety & Health Week is Equipment and Rural Roadway Safety. Safe travel with agricultural equipment on rural roads requires clean, working lights, clear slow-moving vehicle emblems, and extreme patience from both operators and passing motorists.

For equipment operators, here are some things to remember: Keep amber flashing lights, headlights, and reflective tape clean and fully operational. Display a clean Slow-Moving Vehicle emblem on the rear of your equipment. Check tire pressure, brakes, hitch connections, and steering components prior to leaving the yard and use turn signals or clear hand signals well in advance, and pull over safely when possible to let traffic pass.

For motorists remember that farm machinery typically travels between 15 and 25 mph; close the speed gap with caution. Tractors and implements often swing right before making a wide left turn into a field drive or intersection. Never pass in designated no-passing zones, within 100 feet of bridges or intersections, or unless you can see a clear, unobstructed road ahead and remember that harvest time is right around the corner so there will be more equipment on the road.

Plan to leave a little earlier to your destination just in case. No one’s life is worth the rush.