Harvest season is in full swing which means more and more heavy equipment is going to be out on the same roads as vehicle traffic. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers is urging the traveling public to be cautious and patient.
A recent study from the University of Iowa Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health found that higher speed roads, and roads with limited visibility such as narrow, hilly, or curvy roads have a higher instance of traffic accidents between motor vehicles and farm equipment. The study also found that 30-percent of these accidents occurred in urban zip-codes. And given the size and nature of the equipment out there, these accidents can cause serious injuries.
Curt Blades, senior vice president of ag services for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, offers three simple tips for drivers on rural and other farm-adjacent roads to keep themselves safe.
AUDIO: Curt Blades, senior vice president of ag services for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers
Be Aware. ?Drivers should be aware that they may encounter farm equipment on rural roadways,? Blades said. ?If they see a flashing light on a piece of equipment, just slow down and give them space.?
Be Predictable. ?A farmer wants to know if you want to pass them,? Blades continued. ?If you can?t see their mirrors, or inside the cab, they can?t see you. You need to be predictable while driving and interacting with farm equipment.?
Be Patient. ?A farmer will have a good indication of when it is safe for you to pass and will move over to create a clearer passageway,? Blades finished.
To learn more about ag equipment safety, or to purchase safety manuals for your equipment, visit AEM.org.
