State News

Written by Legal Record Webmaster   

As the temperatures begin to rise, planting season will begin. This means that farm equipment will frequently be traveling on the roads in rural areas. During the next couple of months pay extra attention to slow moving vehicles. Collisions between farm vehicles and automobiles can happen in a variety of ways. The most common scenario is the left-turn collision. It happens when a farm vehicle is about to make a left-turn, meanwhile, a motorist behind the farm vehicle decides to pass. Twenty-two percent of all farm related accidents occur in this manner. Keep in mind large farm vehicles, like semi-trucks, may need to take wide left turns. The operator may need to swing to the right before making the left turn because they need the extra room to get lined up with the farm gate or driveway. The operator may not be able to see what is behind them until they are already into the turn. To avoid an accident, a motorist should never assume that a farm vehicle that pulls to the right side of the road is going to turn right, or is letting you pass. Try to make eye contact with the operator before you attempt to pass. They will usually let you know their intentions with a hand signal. If you cannot see the operator, check the right side of the road for any places that the  vehicle might turn, such as, field gates or driveways.
The rear-end collision is also very common, it results in 20% of all farm vehicle accidents. In Illinois 2,341 such accidents occurred in the past seven years, according to the Illinois DOT. These accidents are usually “catastrophic” due to the speed difference between the two vehicles. It is easy to misjudge the speed of a farm implement. Most farm vehicles are not designed to travel at speeds greater than 25 miles per hour. At that speed they are required by law to have a Slow Moving Vehicle emblem on the rear-most implement. Keep in mind that if you are driving at 55 mph and come upon a tractor that is traveling 15 mph, it will only take you five seconds to close a gap the length of a football field. So remember, as soon as you see a farm vehicle start applying the brake.
Many collisions also occur when motorists pass a farm vehicle. Some farm equipment is extra wide or extra long, which motorists don’t consider when they plan to pass. To avoid these type of accidents, do not assume that the farmer can move aside to let you pass. The shoulder may be soft, wet, or steep, which can cause the farm vehicle to tip, or the shoulder may not be able to support the weight of the farm vehicle. When passing, make sure you can see the farm vehicle in your rear-view mirror before you attempt to get back into your lane.
Remember, when traveling on rural roads to stay ALERT. Enjoy your drive, even if you have to follow a farm vehicle traveling 20 mph for two miles, it will only add 6 minutes to your trip. That is about the same time as waiting for two stoplights.