Avoiding Traffic Collisions When Operating Farm Equipment

From the May 4, 2009 Issue of Agri-News

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Accidents involving farm equipment:

the most frequent type of single-vehicle accident is a farm tractor being driven too close to the shoulder of the road and rolling into the ditch
the most common type of multi-vehicle collision is a farm machine being hit as it is turning onto a public road from a farm road or another public road
almost half of all collisions occur in the period of July to September, the peak harvest time

There are many potential hazards that farmers can run into when moving farm machinery and implements on Alberta's public roads. Some of these hazards include:

dust covered machinery causes poor visibility for the operator and for oncoming traffic
dust covered signage and lighting makes farm machinery less visible to motorists
inexperienced operators can make mistakes when they are not used to the limitations of equipment in terms of speed and manoeuvrability
towing a heavy load too fast can lead to swaying and loss of control, resulting in a jack-knifed vehicle or an overturn
extra riders on farm equipment are a distraction to the operator and are at risk of falling off the machinery and being injured or killed
soft shoulders increase the chance of a rollover when trying to make room for other vehicles to pass

Farmers can help prevent farm equipment accidents on public roads by focusing on three main areas:

Make equipment safe and visible
- ensure equipment has the proper lighting and signage
- ensure lighting and signage is free from dust and mud
- slow moving vehicle signs should be properly mounted and not faded be as visible as possible
Follow safe driving tips
- ensure new drivers have had proper training and that they are comfortable performing the task at hand
- if new workers are ever unsure or uncomfortable, they should stop, ask questions and get help!
Drive defensively
- be alert and aware of surroundings and environment
- check all tires for air pressure, cuts and bumps and tread wear
- lock brake pedals together for highway travel - sudden braking on one wheel only at high speed could put the tractor into a dangerous skid
- have a fire extinguisher and first aid kit on board
- use safety chains and proper hitches when towing a load

Being visible and knowing the limitations of your equipment is certainly half the safety battle," says Raelyn Peterson, farm safety coordinator with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, Grande Prairie. "Knowing and doing, however, can be two different things. It is essential that farmers give themselves the time needed to drive safely and to keep their mind on driving safely and defensively."

The Traffic Safety Act provides general information and clarification of the laws that apply to farm vehicles and equipment in Alberta, including information on tractors, towed farm implements and self-propelled implements. The updated version of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development's Make It Safe, Make It Visible includes information on daytime and nighttime travel.

"A safety message to Alberta motorists is that they must do their part by being vigilant and watching for farm equipment on the roads, especially during peak farming seasons in the spring and fall," says Peterson. "Differences in speed between farm machinery and other traffic can result in rear-end collisions. Motorists often miscalculate the rate at which they are approaching farm equipment."

Drivers of motor vehicles may catch up to the farm equipment sooner than expected. With slow-moving equipment, the reaction time is so small that quick decisions must be made to avoid a rear-end collision. This diagram shows the difference in reaction times for approaching another motor vehicle and approaching slow-moving farm equipment.

Contact:
Raelyn Peterson
780-538-5633


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