Sharing the road with farm implements
We have a lot of farms here in our area so it’s important to remember we share the roads with agricultural equipment. In the past few years, local farmers have been hit and killed while driving tractors.
“A neighbor of mine, just several miles from here two years ago was hit by an outfit that didn’t realize how slow he was moving,” says Dwight Little, a farmer, and president of the Idaho Grain Producers.
“Just shy of two years ago we lost a co-worker slash friend. He was traveling in a tractor on a highway which is legal in Idaho and someone in a semi, accidentally, no one did it on purpose. But it crashed into the back of him and it did take his life, it’s hard to recuperate from that,” says Anthony Shurtliff, with Pioneer Equipment Co.
A little bit of patience can go a long way and save a life.
“Especially as we’re approaching a holiday is to know that there will be more people on the road they’re traveling in a hurry to get places and to watch out for us farmers that are on the road trying to get from one farm to another,” says Little.
“When you’re following an ag tractor they know you’re there, we’ve got several mirrors. A lot of tractors are equipped with cameras. W know you’re there we’re going to try to get out of your way as quickly and effectively as we can. We’ve got to share the road. We’ve got to find a spot that’s big enough for the tractor and the implement to get over,” says Shurtliff.
And farmers. take precautions too.
“Make sure that our equipment is in good working order, that we have flashing lights and good turn signals. That we watch that we sometimes don’t put a person in the tractor that may be too young or too inexperienced,” says Little.
“There is a three-vehicle rule so if they’re over three vehicles deep behind you, you need to get off the road as fast as you can and let them go around you. Take a pilot car, put someone in front of you with a two-way radio, or even a cell phone, stop traffic, get the proper equipment, stop signs, yellow vest. Just take a few minutes and it will save a lot of heartache and close calls,” says Shurtliff.
Remember to always follow traffic rules and also watch out for vehicles carrying wide loads.
