Many farmers will be in the fields to plant the state’s 15 million acres of crops and motorists and farmers will need to share the road with farm equipment.
Farm vehicles other than trucks were involved in 98 crashes across the U.S. with two of those accidents occurring in Indiana, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The most common types of farming equipment motorists will encounter include sprayers, tractors pulling planters or tillage equipment, and large trucks hauling agricultural products. These vehicles often travel at speeds of 25 mph and can take up a lot of the roadway.
When encountering a piece of slow-moving farm equipment on the road, farmers will pull over when they can safely do so. Be patient. Don’t try to pass a slow-moving vehicle on the left without ensuring that the vehicle is not planning a left turn. It may appear that the farmer is pulling over for you to pass when the farmer is preparing to turn.
Avoid tailgating, and allow plenty of time to get to your destination.
