WASHINGTON — It’s easy for drivers to grow impatient with you driving your combine or tractor down the road — and you with them. Just like the frustration goes both ways, so does the responsibility to make safe driving choices. Below are some tips on what you can do to make it home safely this harvest season.
Double-check that reflective materials and SMV signage are displayed and clean
That bright orange triangle on the back of equipment is a familiar sight. It gives farmers a chance to warn the traffic around them that they are moving slowly
Here’s a real-world scenario that puts in perspective just how quickly moving equipment down the road can become an accident: A car traveling 50 miles per hour approaches a tractor traveling 20 miles per hour in the same direction on the road. If the driver of the car first notices the tractor while still 400 feet behind it, how long does the driver have to avoid a collision with the tractor?
Researchers at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension say the answer is less than 10 seconds.
The slow moving vehicle (SMV) emblem must be displayed on equipment traveling 25 mph or less, mounted base down on the rear of the vehicle. If pulling equipment, both the vehicle and the pulled equipment require an emblem displayed. When trailering equipment and traveling at speeds over 25 mph, the SMV emblem should be removed.
“We always, always make sure our slow-moving vehicle signs are clear and all our lights are working, and we try to have a pilot or chaser car follow in front of and behind us,” says Daniel Berglund, chairman of the Texas Soybean Board and Texas soybean farmer.
Be visible
When you’re ready to get your day started, you pour your first cup of hot, black coffee, pull on your work boots and grab your favorite ragged ball cap — it may be hard to pause and check something else off your to-do list. But testing your lights before you hit the road, especially this time of year as the sun sets earlier, can mean the difference between a safe drive and a dangerous situation.
“One piece of advice I always share is that there’s a lot of lights on our tractors for a reason — we watch them, and so should motorists,” says Berglund.
While vehicle codes vary from state to state, the Texas Department of Public Safety Commercial Vehicle Enforcment requires tractors and self-propelled equipment to follow the following lighting recommendations:
- Two forward-facing headlights and a red taillight that burns continuously. This tail light must be visible for 500 ft. under normal conditions and mounted on the far left side of the tractor.
- Two rear-mounted red reflectors positioned at the extreme left and right.
- Hazard-warning lights (flashers) when operating on public roads. White or amber flashers are mounted on the front, and red or amber on the rear. These lights must be activated when the vehicle is in operation.
Also on the checklist before hitting the road are adjusting mirrors for clear views, locking brake pedals together, and checking tires so that they are at maximum approved inflation with wheel fasteners tight.
“We run all the needed lights and flags on our equipment when we hit the road,” says Berglund. “We don’t leave the farm without those things.”
Make sure road conditions are clear
Who hasn’t headed to work and been delayed by road maintenance closing one lane of traffic? With farm equipment often wider than the average road lane, this can cause major delays and difficulty getting to the field. Before you move farm equipment, be sure to check your route and decide if an alternate path or time of travel would be better to keep you moving.
- Check the traffic report
- Avoid road construction and maintenance
- Know the width of the roadways with fencing and guardrails
- Check for height clearance of trees and bridges, particularly if transporting equipment on a trailer
- Drive with a charged cell phone and full fuel tank, especially during inclement weather
- Check for height clearance of power lines, trees and bridges, particularly if transporting equipment on a trailer
Stay alert and don’t drive while tired
Everyone has been there. It’s harvest time. The days are shorter, you need to take one more load to the elevator or get the combine into the shed. But you’re so tired.
Harvest season means juggling many issues during long days and it is easy to be distracted and tired. The Maryland Rural Road Safety Study found distracted driving to be the leading cause of collision.
In addition, research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has shown that going too long without sleep can impair your ability to drive the same way as drinking too much alcohol does. For example, studies by the CDC have shown being awake for at least 18 hours has the same negative effects as having a blood alcohol content of 0.05%. Driving farm equipment or heavy machinery only adds risk.
Long hours involved in a repetitive task, such as driving a combine down a long field, can be very fatiguing, according to the National Ag Safety Database. NASD encourages farmers to rest when they are tired. Stopping for 10 to 15 minutes every two to two-and-a-half hours can help quell the drowsiness.
“Let’s all think about safety first and getting home to our families,” says Berglund.
This safety education program is supported by the soy checkoff and multiple Qualified State Soybean Boards in an effort to make rural roads safer for all drivers. For more information on road safety, visit findmedriving.com/knowtherules.
Social
Facebook:
- Before you kick off #harvest21 and hit the road in your equipment, here are a few reminders to help keep safety top of mind this season:
- It’s easy for drivers to grow impatient around farm equipment.. Just like the frustration goes both ways, so does the responsibility to make safe driving choices. Here’s what you can do to make it home safely during #harvest21:
Twitter:
- Before you start the tractor and hit the road for #harvest21, here are a few reminders to help keep safety top of mind:
- #Harvest21 is right around the corner, and it’s easy to get impatient on the roadways. Here’s what you can do to make it home safely this season:
–Soybean Checkoff