Caution urged for drivers sharing road with farm equipment

DelDOT and the Department of Agriculture are urging Delaware drivers to be alert for the presence of agricultural equipment on roads and to practice safe road-sharing techniques when encountering them.

The state is the midst of harvest season and farmers are moving large tractors, trailers, trucks and other large equipment on state roads as they move between fields or to equipment staging areas.

Farm equipment operators that are on the road understand that their presence can delay other drivers' trips and will often pull off the road at the first available safe location to allow other vehicles to pass. Drivers should not assume, however, that the farmer can move aside to let others pass wherever there is open space. Shoulders may be soft, wet or steep, and pulling off the road could cause the farm vehicle to tip, or the shoulder or soil may not be able to support the heavy weight of the equipment.

Drivers who encounter a wide vehicle should yield. On rural roads, some farm equipment may be wider than the lane of travel. If a drivers approach a piece of wide farm equipment traveling in the opposite direction on a rural road and they cannot pass safely, they should stop. Then they should consider the safest alternative: Either to pull off the road, safely turn around or back up to a location that will allow the equipment to pass.

Drivers should never assume the driver of farm equipment knows they are there. Most operators of farm equipment will regularly check to see if there is traffic behind them. However, the farmer must spend most of the time looking ahead to keep the equipment safely on the road, and to watch for oncoming traffic.

Farm equipment is very loud, and the farmer will probably not be able to hear another vehicle. Therefore, drivers should not assume that the farmer knows where another vehicle is located. Before attempting to pass, drivers should be sure they have a clear line of sight down the road ahead and that there is no oncoming traffic. In an area where passing is allowed, drive should use cars' horns to signal to the farmer that they are there, and then pass with caution.

Drivers should not pass if they are in a designated “No Passing Zone” or within 100 feet of any intersection, railroad grade crossing, bridge elevated structure or tunnel. Also, drivers should be watchful of vehicles behind them that may also try to pass the farm vehicle.

Drivers should not assume that a farm vehicle that pulls to the right side of the road is going to turn right or is letting a vehicle pass. Due to the size of some farm implements, the farmer must execute wide left-hand turns. Drivers should check the operator’s hand signals and check the left side of the road for gates, driveways or any place a farm vehicle might turn.

While on rural roads, drivers may encounter farm equipment at any time. This equipment comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Sometimes there will be a single vehicle, such as a tractor or combine. Other times the equipment will consist of a tractor with an implement in tow. Farm equipment is designed to be used primarily in a field and is not designed to travel at typical highway speeds. Most farm equipment is designed to travel at speeds of 15-25 miles per hour. If a vehicle is moving 55 miles per hour and comes upon a tractor that’s moving 15 miles per hour, it only takes five seconds to close a gap the length of a football field between the vehicle and the tractor.

Just as motorists are entitled to operate their vehicles on public roadways, farmers are legally allowed to operate farm equipment on these same roadways.

Farmers have a role in road safety too. Following this safety advice will help:

• Place a slow moving vehicle reflector triangle on any machine that travels the road slower than 25 mph.
• Always point the triangle up, keep the emblem clean to maximize reflectivity, and replace the emblem when it fades, normally every 2-3 years.
• Mark the edges of tractors and machines with reflective tape and reflectors.
• Consider installing retrofit lighting on older machinery to increase visibility.
• Turn on lights, but turn off rear spotlights when going onto the road. From a distance they can be mistaken for headlights.
• Avoid the highway during rush hours and bad weather. To increase visibility, it is best not to drive before sunrise or after sunset.
• Use pilot cars, one in front and one in back if going a considerable distance. Hang an orange flag out the window of these pilot vehicles.
• Consider installing mirrors on equipment to enable awareness of nearby motorists.