Harvest Season Safety Tips

Slow down as soon as you see a farm vehicle. Most farm equipment only travels 15 to 20 miles per hour, so it’s crucial to slow down before it’s too late. Adjust to a greater following distance to increase sight lines when following behind wide, slow-moving vehicles.

Pass with extreme caution and take the standard precautions: Wait for a safe passing zone, watch for oncoming traffic and signal and return to the lane once the vehicle is in your rearview mirror. If the vehicle is extra-wide, wait to pass until the driver pulls over and signals that it's safe. Honk your horn beforehand in case the driver can't see you. Remember, it is illegal to pass at intersections and in no-passing zones. Improper passing can be deadly.

Yield. Give a wide farm vehicle the right-of-way when it's traveling the opposite direction. Farm vehicles can't always pull over to the road's shoulder safely. If possible, pull onto the shoulder or into a turn-out to allow the farm vehicle to pass.

Be patient. A driver may appear to be pulling to the right to let you pass when he or she is actually making a wide left-hand turn. Before driving  past, look for driveways, roads or fields where the vehicle might be entering. Also check for hand gestures or lights signaling the driver's intention to turn. Know the basics. Nearly half of all incidents between motorists and farm implements involve either a left-hand turn or a rear-end collision.

Take a second look. Before you pull into an intersection or make a move to pass, be sure your path is clear in all directions.

Find the lights on farm vehicles. They’re required to have amber and red rear lights. The amber lights should be visible to the front and rear. They should flash as a warning to other motorists.

Always fasten your seat belt. It’s the law in Illinois, and it’s your best defense if you’re in a crash.

And Don’t Drive Distracted.

Take time to wipe off reflectors, flashing lights, and any other warning devices on equipment before entering the roadway. Equipment covered with dust/mud/debris from the field can make warning devices difficult to see.

Understand motorist sight lines are reduced around large pieces of equipment and look for opportunities to move as far right as possible.

Pay attention for traffic backing up while traveling between fields and look for opportunities to ease them. When possible, move off of the roadway to allow extensive back-ups time to clear.

When possible, reduce width of combines by removing the harvesting heads.

Remember, farm machinery cannot be driven or towed on controlled access highways. To learn more about controlled access highway restrictions, click this link.

In general, farm vehicle operators must follow the same rules of the road as the driver of a car when they’re on the road. For example, farm vehicles will have the right of way in a situation if a car would have had the right of way in the same situation.

Equipment is coming in and out of fields in numerous parts of the state this time of year, and we want everyone to remember that someone’s loved one is behind the wheel.

Governor JB Pritzker has proclaimed Sept. 15-21 as Farm Safety and Health Week in Illinois with a theme of “Don’t Learn Safety by Accident.” This year marks the 80th year for the annual observance nationwide.  View the National Farm Safety and Health Week Proclaimation.