PA Farm News - Slow Moving Farm Vehicles Return to PA Roads

Slow Moving Farm Vehicles Return to PA Roads
ELIZABETHTOWN -- As farmers head to the fields to plant their spring crops, representatives from Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and the Pennsylvania Departments of Agriculture, State Police and Transportation joined together to promote safe driving on rural roads at Hershey Farms in Lancaster County as part of Rural Roads Safety Week (RRSW), April 19-26.

Jim Hershey of Elizabethtown was the host farmer for Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s (PFB) statewide event. “The purpose of Rural Roads Safety Week is to alert drivers that large, slow-moving farm equipment is once again traveling on back roads across the state, so please use caution when approaching farm vehicles and be patient if you are delayed,” said Jim Hershey, who produces grains and raises chickens and hogs on his Lancaster County farm.

Farm Bureau notes that practicing safe driving habits is important year-round, but now is a good time to focus on reducing your speed and being more aware of other motorists. “During Rural Roads Safety Week, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is encouraging farmers and drivers on country roads to look out for one another and to share the road, so we can help avoid costly accidents and save lives,” said PFB President Carl T. Shaffer.

According to PennDOT, there were 88 crashes and four deaths involving farm equipment on Pennsylvania roadways in 2006. “Our message here today is simple – be aware on rural roads,” PennDOT Assistant District Executive Mike Gillespie said. “Driving a tractor or other piece of farm equipment is serious business; driving cars, SUVs and trucks is also serious, that’s why all motorists must remember to share the roads with other types and sizes of vehicles.”

(From left to right) Host farmer Jim Hershey, PFB President Carl T. Shaffer, PSP Corporal Linette Quinn, Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff and Mike Gillespie of PennDOT.

(From left to right) Host farmer Jim Hershey, PFB President Carl T. Shaffer, PSP Corporal Linette Quinn, Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff and Mike Gillespie of PennDOT.

Farmers are legally allowed to operate farm equipment on Pennsylvania roads and they must display the Slow Moving Vehicle Emblem (an orange colored triangle) on the rear of all vehicles or equipment that consistently travel at speeds of 25 mph or less. “These vehicles are slow but are allowed to travel our roadways. Respect the farmers as they work to support their business and drive in a manner that will keep our roadways safe for everyone,” said Corporal Linette Quinn of the Pennsylvania State Police Department.

Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff also participated in the news conference.

Several other county Farm Bureaus across the Commonwealth are holding news events in April to help spread the word about Rural Roads Safety Week.

PFB has created a brochure with background information and tips for motorists and farmers as part of Rural Roads Safety Week. The brochure can be viewed or downloaded from PFB’s homepage at www.pfb.com.

Pennsylvania Farm Bureau encourages rural residents to consider the following tips while traveling on rural roads:

Don’t Rush – If you are driving on rural roads, chances are good that you will encounter farm equipment at some point on your route. Avoid rushing and allow plenty of time to reach your destination safety. This is especially important while traveling during the months between April and November.

Pass with Care – If the farmer has pulled off the road so that you may pass – or if the farmer does not pull over, but you feel you must pass – do so with caution. Be observant for other vehicles that may try to pass and oncoming traffic. Never pass when curves or hills may block your view of oncoming vehicles, you are in a ‘No Passing Zone’ or within 100 feet of any intersection, railroad grade crossing, bridge, elevated structure or tunnel. Also be careful that the farmer is not pulling to the right to make a wide left turn.

Be Patient – Farmers are not operating equipment on rural roads to slow you down intentionally; instead they are working to provide you and all Pennsylvanians with a safe food supply. Whenever possible, farmers will pull off the road at the first safe opportunity so you can pass.

SMV = Brake Immediately – The orange triangular Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) emblem warns drivers of a slow vehicle speed. All farm equipment traveling at speeds of 25 miles per hour or less are required to be marked with a SMV emblem. Once you see it, slow down immediately. Remember that it is illegal for any resident of Pennsylvania to display the SMV emblem on permanent, stationary objects such as mailbox posts, driveway entrances and fences.

Remain Visible – Don’t assume that the farmer knows that you are driving near his vehicle. While most farmers will check behind them whenever possible, they are often concentrating on keeping their equipment on the road and avoiding oncoming traffic. Before you pass, use your car’s horn to let the driver know where you are. Note that farmers may not be able to hear you over their equipment noise.

Yield to Wide Vehicles – Sometimes farm equipment is wider than travel lanes. If you approach wide equipment and cannot pass safety, stop. You can then pull off the road, turn around or back away safely so the equipment can pass you. Watch for pilot or escort cars, which help to indicate an oversize vehicle. If you see an escort vehicle, pull off the road, so the oversize vehicle can pass you.

Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is the state’s largest farm organization with a volunteer membership of more than 42,500 farm and rural families, representing farms of every size and commodity across Pennsylvania.

Photos Courtesy of Pennsylvania Farm Bureau

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