Farm Equipment Road Safety Tips

REDFIELD, Iowa (DTN) -- It's harvest season, which means there are a lot of tractors, combines and grain trucks traveling on the roads. But really, when you live in farming country, farm equipment is on the road throughout the year. It's very important to be aware of farm equipment and take the time to practice traffic safety.

June 11 seemed to be like any other early summer day, and then my phone rang. It was my best friend. It's not odd that she would call me, but this was not a call I was expecting. I answered to hear a frantic voice saying her boyfriend had been in an accident while he was hauling hay with the tractor and bale trailer.

He was hit by a semi-truck. The truck was trying to pass him, in a no passing zone, and clipped the side of the trailer. He was seriously injured, but alive, which for that, we are thankful. A major knee surgery later, he is getting back to moving around a lot better and will start harvest soon.

A PATTERN OF PREVENTABLE TRAGEDIES

That reminds me of another friend, who was moving equipment on a four-lane highway and was also hit by a semi-truck a couple years ago. He suffered several injuries and spent time in the hospital. Another acquaintance is still in the hospital after his tractor and manure spreader were hit from behind by a semi-truck.

All these accidents have the same thing in common. All these accidents could have been prevented if drivers would slow down, pay attention and follow traffic laws. The Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health did a study looking at farm vehicle related crashes in nine states: Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. In these states from 2005-2010, there were 7,094 farm vehicle related crashes, that resulted in 2,929 injuries and 161 deaths.

Further information from the study showed 22.6% of these were rear-end accidents; 17.8% sideswipe, same direction accidents; 16.9% non-collision accidents; 16.7% angle, oncoming left turn accidents; 10.6% sideswipe, opposite direction accidents; 2.7% head-on accidents; and 12.7% marked as other.

Some of the conclusions from this study were fewer collisions occurred on weekends, nearly 80% of crashes occurred during daylight, and 77% of crashes occurred during clear weather.

SAFETY STEPS FOR EVERYONE

The Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health reminds farmers to follow the rules of the road, use reflective materials and slow-moving vehicle signs, clean and replace reflective materials, use flashers, and be visible 24/7.

As far as motorists go, be patient with farm equipment, follow traffic rules, maintain extra distance from farm equipment, and be aware that farm equipment could slow down or turn unexpectedly.

As I watched my son drive a tractor down the road recently, it really hit home. The people driving this equipment are someone's grandparent, parent, child, sibling or friend. Stay aware of what is going on around you and help prevent a farm equipment related accident on the road.

Jennifer Carrico can be reached at jennifer.carrico@dtn.com

Follow her on social platform X @JennCattleGal

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