 It's important to travel safely on county roads, especially during the times of planting and harvest when it's likely that you'll encounter farmers and their farm machinery. Occasionally, farmers need to travel on county roads as they move from field to field.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when you encounter farm equipment on county roads.
DO...
- Do be patient if a farm vehicle is traveling slowly. Wait for the proper time to pass.
- Do properly signal any movements, passes or turns while around farm equipment.
- Do continue to follow regular traffic laws if you need to share the roadway with a farm vehicle.
- Do keep in mind that farm equipment may need more roadway than other vehicles. If possible, move over to give them more space.
- Do drive defensively and be aware of other vehicles that are not following these guidelines, and perhaps driving dangerously around farm equipment (e.g. illegal passing, speeding, failure to signal, etc.).
DON'T...- Don't pass a farm vehicle in a no passing zone...even if the vehicle is traveling partially on the shoulder.
- Don't follow too closely to farm equipment. Flying debris or sudden stopping can occur.
- Don't assume the driver of the farm vehicle is able to see clearly in all directions. They too have blind spots.
- Don't assume farm equipment can stop in the same amount of time as a regular vehicle. Try to prevent having to stop suddenly if a farm vehicle is behind you.
- Don't assume a farm vehicle will always yield the right of way to you. Make sure they have stopped or completely turned before pulling out into the roadway.
Don't speed past farm machinery...even when you are able to pass safely and legally. The wind created by your vehicle can make the machinery or the load unstable and cause the machinery to swerve or the load to tip over.
Working together, we can assure safe travel on our county roads! |