Harvest season is underway for Indiana farmers!
Fields have turned from green to gold, and for Indiana farmers, that means it is time to harvest their crops.
Even if you have never been on a farm, harvest season affects you. You may see an increase in farm equipment on the roads such as combines, tractors, grain carts, grain wagons, and semis. These vehicles are often wide, taking up a major portion of the roadway, and are considered slow-moving vehicles (SMV) that typically cannot travel faster than 25mph.
ISDA encourages you to drive carefully and stay informed on how to keep everyone safe this fall.
The following list includes several safety tips for motorists approaching large farm equipment:
- Farmers will pull over when they are able to let motorists pass, but it may take time for them to get to a safe place to do so.
- Be patient. Farm equipment is wide, sometimes taking up most of the road.
- Be careful when passing. Do not pass in a designated “No Passing Zone” or within 100 feet of any intersection, railroad grade crossing, bridge, elevation structure or tunnel.
- Do not try to pass slow-moving farm equipment on the left without ensuring that the farmer driving is not planning a left turn. It may appear that the driver is pulling over to allow a pass when the farmer is actually preparing to turn. You will drive right into its path, endangering yourself and the farmer.
- Avoid tailgating, as some farm equipment might have to make sudden stops along the road.
- Allow plenty of time to get to a destination, be aware of alternate routes and avoid distractions.
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