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Motorists, farmers reminded about road safety during harvest
 
By Michele F. Mihaljevich
Indiana Correspondent

INDIANAPOLIS – As harvest season begins to ramp up, motorists and farmers are being reminded about ways to be safe on the road.
The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) launched its Harvest Safety Campaign last month.
“It’s my favorite time of the year, we’re going to pumpkin patches and apple orchards,” Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch said. “And farmers are on the roads moving field to field with combines and tractors. We want to alert motorists that farmers are out there producing our food. We’re hoping motorists will slow down and have respect.”
We can’t take for granted the importance of protecting our farmers and motorists, noted Crouch, who serves as the state’s secretary of agriculture and rural development.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) keeps tabs on the number of fatal roadway crashes involving farm equipment, and the number of deaths in those crashes. Farm equipment, as defined by the agency, includes tractors and combines but not trucks.
Nationally, 275 people were killed in 262 fatal roadway crashes involving farm equipment from 2017 to 2019, according to the latest numbers from NHTSA. Regionally, Illinois had 14 deaths in 13 fatal crashes; Indiana, 12 deaths, 12 crashes; Iowa, 15 deaths, 14 crashes; Kentucky, eight deaths, eight crashes; Michigan, seven deaths, seven crashes; Ohio, 10 deaths, 10 crashes; and Tennessee, nine deaths, eight crashes.
It’s important to spread the word about highway safety annually because each year, new drivers take to the roads, said Bruce Kettler, ISDA director. “Driving around farm vehicles could be new to some of the people,” he explained. “We might have people moving out to rural areas, moving out of the city. We have to remember it constantly changes.”
The ISDA website (www.isda.in.gov) offers several tips to motorists, including to be patient and careful when attempting to pass farm equipment. The site reminds drivers to allow plenty of time to reach their destination, not to pass within 100 feet of an intersection, railroad grade crossing, bridge, elevation structure or tunnel, and not to tailgate farm equipment. Motorists shouldn’t try to pass farm equipment on the left without ensuring they aren’t attempting to make a left-hand turn.
Farmers should make sure their farm equipment, including lights and flashers, is in good working order before they go out to the fields, Kettler said. “A ‘slow vehicle’ sign in important. And when they’re going to make a turn, they should make sure they’re slowing down, use their mirrors, make sure traffic is clear around them. If they have motorists behind them, if and where they’re able, they should pull over and let traffic pass.”
Candi Engler farms around three suburbs in the Des Moines, Iowa, metro area. She said she’s seen a lot of close calls between motorists and farm equipment.
“We have equipment where people don’t expect it,” she said. “We’re places where they don’t necessarily expect us. I find it funny; they know the field is there. Do they think it magically gets farmed and that we must do it at night? Motorists are either very courteous and helpful, or they’re impatient and in a hurry. There doesn’t seem to be any in between.”
In the mid-1990s, one of the farm’s hired hands was T-boned by a gravel truck while attempting to make a left-hand turn. He was injured but has since recovered.
“He had his turn signal on,” she noted. “We’re very careful. We assume the person behind us doesn’t know we’re turning. Most large equipment doesn’t have great visibility. We try to watch the time of day we move equipment. From 7 to 9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m., it’s not a good idea to move equipment then. Sometimes you can’t avoid it. You do the best you can.”
Cameras have been installed on some of the farm equipment to help the drivers see any cars behind them, Engler said. “An easy thing for farmers to do is know what’s around you, be sure you have good visibility. Make sure you have good lighting and markings, including a slow-moving vehicle sticker. Motorists don’t pass if it’s not a passing zone and if you don’t have good visibility. At a stop sign, motorists will often look left and then turn right. I’m coming toward the intersection (from the right) and I’m taking up both lanes. Just be patient.
Mike Naig, Iowa secretary of agriculture, said, “Farmers have a very important job to do this fall. When the weather is good, they’re working around the clock to get their crops out of the field. Please be patient when you encounter farm equipment on rural roadways. Slow down and give the driver plenty of room. Expect the unexpected and be courteous to your fellow motorists. We want everyone to have a safe harvest season.”
Andrew Vermeesch, Michigan Farm Bureau legislative counsel, said farmers and motorists have a shared responsibility on the road.
“Safety is always a priority,” he stated. “Slow down and be on the lookout for farm equipment. And be alert. Patience for both the motorist and farmer goes a long way.”
Motorists should pay attention to slow moving vehicle signs, Vermeesch said, noting those signs should only be used on slow moving vehicles. Some people, he added, use the signs as driveway markers.
“Watch for flashing amber lights (from the farm equipment) and reflective tape,” Vermeesch said. “Look for the driver of the farm equipment. If the motorist can’t see the driver, that means the driver can’t see them.”
Motorists shouldn’t pull out in front of a slow-moving vehicle and then slow down, he said. “Make sure you have ample space and check your rear-view mirror before moving back into the lane (after passing).”
Farmers should leave gaps between vehicles when several are traveling together. “It’s much easier and safer to pass one vehicle at a time at safe speed rather than several,” Vermeesch said. “Also, allow for a following vehicle with flashing lights.
“Everyone has a right to use the public highway. Motorists and farmers need to find a way to share the road.”
 



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9/28/2021