University of Wisconsin - Extension

Madison, Wis. – Motorists driving on rural roads are likely to encounter slow moving farm vehicles through most of November and December because the harvest season has been delayed due to a wet spring and cooler temperatures. In order to get the harvest completed farmers may be operating more during low-light conditions or after dark. That means it’s time for all drivers to be especially vigilant and careful.

It’s legal to drive farm machinery on public roads and it’s often the only way farmers can get from field to field. The combination of slow traveling farm equipment and faster motor vehicles means the time before the two meet can be seconds. Add in any driver distraction – talking on cellphone, being tired- and stopping without a crash is almost impossible.

Cheryl Skjolaas, University of Wisconsin-Extension agricultural safety specialist, says drivers must remember that farm equipment is big, slow and not very maneuverable.

“It’s important to be alert and remember that these farm vehicles don’t behave like cars and trucks when it comes to speed, turning or braking,” Skjolaas said.

Skjolaas offered some tips and reminders for people driving cars on rural roads:

-- Farm machinery that goes less than 25 miles per hour (mph) should display an orange ‘slow moving vehicle’ or SMV emblem on the back. Alternatively, the equipment may have an amber strobe light.

- A road sign to watch for is a yellow and black warning sign with the symbol of a farmer driving a tractor. These signs are within 500 feet of a driveway to alert motorists of a farm or field drive with an obstructed view such as on a hill or around a curve.

-- The farm vehicle operator may not be able to see around the equipment, so don’t assume that the operator knows you are approaching. Similar to semi-trucks many use large extended mirrors. When a driver follows too closely, the vehicle isn’t visible to the farm equipment operator. Keep a distance back.

--A majority of farm equipment and motor vehicle crashes occur when the farm equipment operator slows down to turn left and the motorist moves to pass. When you pass farm machinery, make sure the driver is not about to turn left. Before you decide to pass, look for driveways into farms or fields where the farm vehicle operator could be turning.

-- Farm equipment operators are not required to drive on the road shoulders. If safe, the farm machinery operator may pull off to allow traffic to pass. However, with the recent wet weather shoulders of the roads are too soft for the weight of loads.

-- Some wide equipment may extend into the oncoming traffic lane. Also, make sure the road is wide enough and watch for road-side obstacles such as mailboxes that might cause the equipment operator to drift to the left.

-- Farm machinery may not have brake lights or turn signals. At night lighting and marking requirements for farm equipment do apply.

-- Farm machinery crossing the road moves slowly and may be pulling equipment that will take longer to clear the road. Don’t try to pass on the left as the equipment may swing out differently than you expect.

-- In addition, make sure that you have enough time and distance to pass safely. It is illegal to pass farm equipment in no passing zones.