Share the Road Safely With Farm Equipment

For Immediate Release: Friday, July 09, 2010

Summer is harvest time in rural Washington County, and large slow-moving tractors and farm equipment traveling along the roadway are a common sight. Over half of the 1,271 miles of roads maintained by Washington County’s Department of Land Use and Transportation are in a rural setting. Scenic two-lane roads wind through farms, forests, nurseries and vineyards. Due to population growth, more high-speed traffic now travels on roads not designed for that kind of traffic.

It is legal for farmers to drive their equipment on public roads, and both farmers and other roadway users must take proper precautions to share the roadways, for their own safety and the safety of others. Not recognizing slow moving vehicles, or simply not being aware of them until it is too late, is a leading cause of collisions.

How can you recognize farm vehicles?  According to the Oregon Drivers Manual, farm machinery and equipment that travels at 25 mph or less must display a slow-moving vehicle emblem on the rear when traveling on public roads. As a motorist, you must be prepared to slow down when you see this triangular sign with a red reflectorized border and a fluorescent orange-red center. Some farm vehicles may also display flashing yellow lights.

They're so big and slow, how could you possibly rear-end a farm vehicle?  Consider this: A car traveling 55 mph requires about 224 feet to stop on dry pavement, assuming average reaction time and braking. A car traveling 55 mph can close a 300-foot gap (the length of a football field) and overtake a tractor moving at 15 mph in about five seconds. If you do not begin to slow as soon as you see a farm vehicle, you might not have time to avoid a collision.

Many accidents occur when a slow-moving farm vehicle is turning left. Although a tractor may appear to be stopping beside the road or turning right, it might actually be turning left. The farmer is swinging wide to line up with a gate or driveway; the driver behind the farmer may think the farmer is pulling over to let the driver pass. Look for gates, driveways or access roads on the left side of the road that may indicate a left turn.

How and when is it safe to pass farm equipment?  It is illegal and very dangerous to pass farm equipment in a no passing zone. Pass only when the road ahead is clear and there is either a dashed yellow line on your side of the road or a dashed white line. And when passing, be extra cautious. Tractors and other farm equipment may be wider than they look from behind and may require ample space in both lanes.

ODOT’s Crash Analysis and Reporting Unit reports that in the five-year period from 2004 through 2008, Oregon experienced 219 crashes involving farm equipment; 157 people were injured and 17 people died. Seventeen of those crashes and one death occurred on Washington County’s roads. Over half of Washington County’s crashes were rear-end or side-swipe crashes, with another third occurred during turning movements. Most crashes took place on a weekday, during the day, on dry pavement. The most frequent day of the week for crashes involving farm equipment in Washington County was Wednesday.

The keys to safety when sharing the road with farm equipment are caution and patience. A farmer understands that your trip is being delayed, so he or she will pull off the road at the first available safe location to allow you to pass.

Related: Oregon Farm Bureau’s publication Rural Road Safety

Washington County is committed to building and maintaining the best transportation system, ensuring the safety of all roadway users, and to operating the county roadway system in a cost-effective and environmentally responsible manner.

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