Oregon Farm Bureau Asking Drivers To Slowdown Watch for Equipment

With harvest underway in several sections of the Northwest, it’s very likely you’ll encounter ag equipment on area roadways.  The Oregon Farm Bureau is reminding growers and drivers the importance of defensive driving this time of year.  OFB’s Anne Marie Moss told the Washington Ag Network in the coming months, farmers will need to get from field to field, and country roadways and highways are the most direct route.

“Patience and courtesy on everyone’s part because you don’t come across a huge piece of equipment, like a combine or a major farm truck on the road very often so, some people forget or they don’t quite understand you need to slowdown significantly in order to be safe.”

Moss added while it may frustrate those in a hurry, ag equipment and implements are perfectly legal on roadways.  She says motorists must drive with caution.  A car traveling 55 miles per hour coming up on a tractor that’s moving at 25 miles per hour can close a gap the length of a football field in only eight seconds.

Additional safety tips for motorists include:

• If you decide to pass farm equipment on the road, please do so with caution.
• Be watchful of vehicles behind you that may also try to pass.
• If you must enter the oncoming lane of traffic, do not proceed unless you can see clearly ahead of both you and the vehicle you will pass.
• If there are any curves or hills ahead that may block your view or the view of oncoming vehicles, do not pass.
• Do not pass if you are in a designated “No Passing Zone” or within 100 feet of any intersection, railroad grade crossing, bridge, elevation structure, or tunnel.
• Do not assume that a farm vehicle that pulls to the right side of the road is going to turn right or is letting you pass. Due to the size of some farm implements, the farmer must make wide left-hand turns. If you are unsure, check the operator’s hand signals and look at the left side of the road for gates, driveways,

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (590) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekradio.com