Planting season is here for many Hoosier farmers. As the weather warms up in Indiana, drivers may notice more farming equipment on the roads. Farm machinery is designed to move at a slower pace and often travel less than 25 mph at maximum speed. As more and more equipment begins to travel on our public roadways, motorists need to be mindful and follow these steps to keep all drivers and our farmers safe.
State law requires specific signage to be displayed on any vehicle designed to travel at speeds of 25 mph or less. However, according to findings by the Indiana Farm Bureau, less than 30 percent of drivers know what the symbol means. This orange triangle, with a reflective red border, is not simply a reflector; it is a warning to brake immediately and slow down.
There are also steps that farmers can take to better ensure drivers see the slow-moving vehicle emblem from as far back as possible. This is imperative because if a car is moving at 55 mph and comes upon a tractor that is moving 15 mph, it only takes five seconds to close a gap the length of a football field between the two.
To help guarantee that the emblem is as visible as possible and maximize its reflectivity, it must be clean. While routine cleaning is important, the emblem will likely also need to be replaced every few years as they often fade when exposed to sunlight for long periods of time.
While some may think that because the farmer sits higher up in their equipment, they are able to see everything that is around them. This is not true. This big equipment can be hard to see around. Most farm equipment operators will regularly check to see if there is traffic behind them, but they must also keep their eyes on the road in front of them. Farmers try to be considerate of fellow travelers, but cannot stop every time they happen to see a car behind them. To better ensure the safety of each party, it’s important to only pass equipment when highway markings indicate this is allowed.
In addition, if a farmer has pulled to the side of the road, one should not simply assume that they are trying to let you pass. Due to the size of most farm equipment, the driver may have to make wide left turns prompting them to swing to the right. If you are unsure, watch for the operator’s hand signals and check the left side of the road for driveways or any other place where they could turn into.
While most of these tips seem logical, they can be difficult to remember in instances when a driver may be running late to pick their child up from school or are simply ready to be home after a long day at the office. The key, however, is to be aware of your surroundings, be patient and be considerate. Even if a person has to follow a tractor for two miles at 20 mph, it only takes six extra minutes out of the day. In the grand scheme of things, six minutes is a small price to pay when it could be a matter of life and death.
Farming contributes $31.2 billion to our economy and our state relies heavily on the work that these dedicated families put forward. Farmers are sharing the roads so please be patient as they are moving from field to field, so we can all get to our destinations safely.
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State Rep. Frye (R-Greensburg) represents House District 67, which includes Ohio, Ripley and Switzerland counties, as well as portions of Decatur, Jennings, Jefferson and Dearborn counties.
A high-resolution photo of Frye can be downloaded by clicking here.
