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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Tuesday, September 15, 2009 11:07 PM CDT
Fall harvest season means being alert for farmers and SMVs

Mary Cox, Coles County Farm Bureau

Fall has finally made its way into the Midwest and farmers will soon be back on the roads moving from field to field to harvest their grain. Harvest season is a fast and furious time for area farmers.

Farm tractors and equipment do not travel down the blacktop roads like your car does. And yes, this equipment has every right to share the same pavement as any other car, pick-up or SUV. Unfortunately, the Illinois Department of Transportation reports that on average, there are 270 crashes involving slow-moving vehicles each year. These accidents result in serious injury or even death and could be presented with proper safety care and caution.

Here are a few written rules of the road that can help keep you driving safely through the country during the fall. When you approach a blind intersection or a hilltop, slow down and be prepared to share the road with larger farm vehicles. Remain calm when you are following farm vehicles and leave plenty of room between you and the other vehicle. During the fall harvesting season, farmers constantly move from field to field and may turn at unexpected, and often hard to see, field entrances.

Most collisions involving slow-moving vehicles occur when the trailing car runs into the rear of the slower moving vehicle ahead.

Drivers usually report being unable to stop in time. Farm equipment is often only moving 20 miles an hour or slower which is significantly slower than a car legally traveling 55 miles per hour.

Most fatalities occur at dusk or just after sunset. It is important to immediately slow down when you see farm equipment on the road. Tractors and farm equipment take wider turns and must sometimes slow down quite a bit to negotiate a corner safely. Stay back and be prepared to slow down or stop. Also remember, it is difficult to stop quickly with farm equipment so do not attempt to pull out in front of a tractor to try to “beat them”.

Do not attempt to pass until it is legal and safe to do so. Be sure the driver of the slow-moving vehicle is aware you are passing. It may not be possible for a farmer to pull over to allow you to pass. Attempting to pass without sufficient room or approaching obstacles is dangerous for you and the farmer.

When it comes to sharing the road with slow-moving vehicles, the bottom line is patience, slow down immediately and pay attention. It’s a driver’s responsibility to watch for SMV (slow-moving vehicle) emblems and appropriate lighting on farm equipment to prevent collisions.

PrimeTimers to meet

The CCFB PrimeTimers will be meeting at Pagliacci’s, Mattoon at 11:30 a.m. Thursday. A tour of the Mattoon High School greenhouse will follow. Please RSVP the office at 345-3276 or 234-2125.

Mary Cox is the manager of the Coles County Farm Bureau.

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