Sharing the Road: Top Tips for Safety Around Farm Equipment

Rural drives can be a relaxing ride through the scenic countryside, but being able to share the road with large farm equipment is a crucial part of roadway safety. Did you know it takes just five seconds for a car traveling 55 mph to close a distance the size of a football field on a tractor or combine (1)?. Both machinery operators and drivers sharing the road are responsible for maintaining proper safety procedures (2). Here are some tips to ensure everyone is safe this season:

Machinery Operators

1. Maintain your equipment. Check that lighting, signals, brakes, steering, and all machine parts are in proper working order.
2. Understand state laws. Know your state-specific laws regarding speed limits, signs and markings, weight limits, and any restrictions on driving times or distances tractors can be driven.
3. Be aware of road conditions. Keep an eye out for sharp curves, blind corners, steep hills, potholes, and loose gravel. Adjust speeds in low visibility caused by rainy or nighttime conditions, and drive cautiously on minimally maintained roads with few stop or yield signs.
4. Maintain space. Allow sufficient space between your machinery and other vehicles to maintain enough stopping space. Keep right whenever possible to allow other vehicles to pass safely.

Drivers Sharing the Road

1. Be alert. Being able to notice large and/or slow-moving before approaching them helps to avoid incidents.
2. Slow down. Begin braking when you see a slow-moving piece of machinery and stay a safe distance back. The operator may have difficulty seeing you if you get closer than 50 feet. Do not speed by, as the air turbulence can cause the equipment to become unsteady.
3. Yield and pass carefully. Wait for safe passing zones with no oncoming traffic before attempting to pass slow-moving equipment. Give machinery passing in the other direction the right of way, moving to the shoulder for wide loads if possible. Always make sure farm drivers are not turning into a field or driveway before proceeding around them, as many require wide turns.
4. Take a second look. Crops can create blind corners, and farm vehicles can enter the road from unseen or unmarked access roads. Make sure your path is indeed clear before pulling into intersections (3).

The large size, extreme weight, and power of large farm equipment make collisions even more dangerous than those in regular vehicles. Whether you are operating that machinery yourself or come upon it driving down the road, driving safety is no place for complacency.

1. Farm Bureau Financial Services. “5 Tips for Sharing the Road with Farm Equipment.” https://www.fbfs.com/learning-center/share-the-road 
2. Nebraska Agribility. “Think Safety as You Share the Road.” https://agrability.unl.edu/news/think-safety-you-share-road/ 
3. State Farm.”Sharing the Road with Farming Vehicles.” https://www.statefarm.com/simple-insights/auto-and-vehicles/share-the-road-with-farm-vehicles