ISP cautions drivers of slow-moving farm equipment
This week Idaho State Police are teaming-up with various farm groups across the state to warn drivers about the dangers of not sharing the road with those large, yet slow-moving farming equipment and trucks.
ISP said this past year, five fatal accidents related to cars colliding with slow-moving farming vehicles occurred, making 2013 the worst year state police have seen so far when it comes to this sort of accident.
Former truck driver and D&D Trucking manager Greg Ramsdell said he has seen his fair share of accidents on the stretch of highway 91 because people tried to pass these large vehicles, couldn’t see around them, and collided head-on with oncoming traffic.
“They need to slow down and not take so many chances,” Ramsdell said. “They’ll get there. But, they just get impatient, they’re in a hurry, and try to shoot around somebody and they don’t realize how fast traffic is coming in their direction. So, they take a chance, but don’t make it.”
Sgt. Matt Manning is an officer with ISP in Pocatello and he said especially during this time of year which happens to be harvesting season, drivers are about to see a jump in the number of these large farming vehicles putting around roads and interstates, and we need to also remember they’ll be hauling a lot more weight so it will take them more time to stop and slow down.
He said most people also don’t realize some of this equipment is not armed with turn signals and brake lights so drivers need to stop tailgating these large vehicles and leave enough room for the safety of both the driver of the car and the driver of the farm equipment.
“You have such a difference in speed, so motorists find when they come upon this farm machinery in such a short amount of time, they don’t have enough time to react,” Manning said.
Although frustrating and often times dangerous to be stuck behind some of these vehicles while on the interstate as they are moving far slower than the posted speed limit, Manning said it’s perfectly legal.
However, he said these vehicles should not be driving that slow on the interstate half an hour after sunset and half an hour before the sunrise unless they have the proper state-regulated lights on the vehicles.
