It’s Rural Roads Safety Week. Follow these tips while driving in PA | Opinion
Centre County Farm Bureau will recognize Rural Roads Safety Week April 13-19. Pennsylvania has more rural roads than any other state in the country. Especially during springtime, more farmers are driving large equipment on rural roads which, in turn, increases farm machinery accidents.
The Rural Roads Safety program was created in 2000 by the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. Rural Roads Safety Week, a joint campaign between the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, state police and the state departments of Agriculture and Transportation, is designed to educate the general public and farmers about safety concerns on rural roads, particularly in relation to slow moving vehicles and to slow down when approaching large farm equipment on back roads.
The goal of the campaign is to reduce the number of accidents on rural roads and to save lives. Now that spring is here, with its warmer weather and longer days, farmers are heading to the fields to plant their crops.
Tips for drivers
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 safely.
Pass carefully — If the farmer has pulled off the road, then 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 block your view of oncoming vehicles, you are in a “no passing” zone or within 100 feet of any intersection. 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, farmers are working to provide a safe food supply for us all.
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.
Yield to wide vehicles — Sometimes farm equipment is wider than travel lanes. If you approach wide equipment and cannot pass safely, 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.
Tips for farmers
Farmers play a key role in rural road safety too. Here are some tips to alleviate some hazards when taking wide equipment onto the road:
- Pennsylvania law requires you to place a slow-moving vehicle reflector on any machine that travels the road slower than 25 mph. Always point the triangle up, keep the SMV emblem clean to maximize reflectivity, and replace the emblem when it fades, normally every 2-3 years.
- Mark the edges of tractors and machines with reflective tape and reflectors.
- Turn on your lights, but turn off rear spotlights when going onto the road. From a distance they can be mistaken for headlights.
- If possible, avoid the highway during rush hours and bad weather.
- Use pilot cars if you are going a considerable distance.
When you are traveling throughout our beautiful country roads this spring and get behind a piece of equipment going slower than you would like, please don’t get too angry, instead remember they are out early in the morning until late some evenings planting their crops so we have food to put on our tables!
Have a safe and happy year and remember to count your blessings each day!