For Indiana’s 94,000 farmers, planting season is quickly approaching. This means farm equipment will be taking to rural roadways. They’ll often travel slower than passenger cars and take up most of the road.
The Indiana State Police and other agencies are urging caution and patience for motorists this season.
In 2022, 11 occupants were involved in crashes with farm equipment in Indiana, resulting in one death. This is according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
"Spring time is incredibly busy for everyone, parents taking their kids to baseball and softball, track and field, graduations and more, but it's especially busy for our farmers," said Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, secretary of agriculture and rural development via news release. "I want to encourage all motorists this spring to slow down, drive safely and share our roads with farmers and their large slow moving equipment."
The ISP along with The Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana Department of Transportation, and Hoosier Ag Today are urging motorists to “stay alert and share the road” this season.
Common farm equipment includes sprayers, tractors pulling planters or tillage equipment and large trucks hauling agricultural products.
The ISP suggests allowing extra travel time on rural roads near farms.
Other safety tips include not passing on the left unless that lane is definitely clear and the farm equipment isn’t also about to turn left.
Farmers will pull over when they are able, to let motorists pass but it may take time for them to safely do so.
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More from the news release via ISP
While the term “farm equipment” encompasses a wide range of vehicles, the most common types motorists will encounter during planting season include sprayers, tractors pulling planters or tillage equipment, and large trucks hauling agricultural products. These vehicles are wide, sometimes taking up most of the road, and often travel at speeds no greater than 25 mph.
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 vehicle to pass when the farmer is actually preparing to turn. You will drive right into its path, endangering yourself and the farmer.
Additionally,
- 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.
Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Don Lamb wants to remind motorists that farmers work hard to ensure they are being as safe as possible.
"Getting planting equipment from field to field is the hardest part of planting season for Hoosier farmers," said Don Lamb, ISDA director and farmer from Boone county. "Having cars pull over when able is a huge help and farmers appreciate it and we also try to pull over when we can to let people pass. We want everyone to get to their destination safely, whether that is to school, daycare pickup or a farm field."