Harvest Season Requires Special Attention From Motorists

The wheat has turned in much of the state, and although we’ve had a lot of rain the past week, harvest will soon be underway. Living in a state where farming is a staple in our economy, all travelers need to be aware of increased farm implement and farm vehicle traffic on Kansas roads in the coming weeks.

Each year around this time, troopers and other officers are called to the scene of crashes involving farm implements and other vehicles. Oftentimes, it’s a matter of another vehicle not stopping in time before striking a farm implement. These crashes can be very bad, with severe injuries, and in some unfortunate instances—fatalities. One of the main things to remember in dealing with these crashes is that many are preventable. If drivers slow down, pay attention, and keep in mind the special requirements of farm vehicles, they can keep themselves, their passengers, and the farmers safe during this year’s harvest.

Last week, we issued a press release with some important safety tips for motorists sharing the road with farmers, and because of their importance and safety benefits, please take a few moments to review these tips.

• Don’t assume the farmer knows you’re there. Most operators of farm equipment regularly check for vehicles behind them, however most of their time must be spent looking ahead to keep the equipment safely on the road and to watch for oncoming traffic. Farm vehicles are also extremely loud, often hindering the farmer’s ability to hear your vehicle.

• Pass with extreme caution. Do not pass a farm implement unless you can see clearly ahead of both your vehicle and the farm equipment you are passing. If there are any curves or hills blocking your view of oncoming traffic, wait to pass until you can clearly visualize the area you’re passing in. Another important thing to remember is that you should not pass in a designated “No Passing Zone,” even if you are stuck behind a farm vehicle. Do not pass if you are within 100 feet of any intersection, railroad grade crossing, bridge, elevated structure, or tunnel.

• Allow extra room when following farm equipment. With slow moving vehicles, a passenger vehicle can close in on the empty space much more quickly than you close in on a regular vehicle. Just because a farm vehicle pulls to the right side of the road does not mean it is turning right or allowing you to pass. Due to the size of some farm equipment, the farmer must execute wide left turns, so when following a farm implement, allow it plenty of room and time to turn, and be alert to the surroundings to see if there might be a driveway or field they are turning into.

• Be patient. Don’t assume that a farmer can move aside to let you pass. Shoulders may be soft, wet, or steep, which can cause the farm vehicle to tip, or the shoulder may not support the weight of a heavy farm vehicle. The farmer understands you are being delayed and he or she will move over for you to pass at the first safe location available.

• Think of the slow moving vehicle emblem as a warning to adjust your speed. When you see the slow moving vehicle emblem, you should immediately slow down. While the emblems are visible from a long distance away, it is often difficult to judge the speed at which you are closing in on a vehicle, especially at night.

• Pay attention. Don’t allow yourself to be distracted by the radio, cell phones, other electronic devices, or anything else while you are driving. When you are not focused on the road, you increase your chances of a collision, especially if you should come upon a slow moving farm vehicle.

• Always wear seatbelts and use child safety seats. This is the best defense against injury and death should you be involved in a motor vehicle crash.