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MIFFLINTOWN -- 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. Additionally, it alerts motorists across Pennsylvania to drive cautiously on rural roads and to slow down when approaching large farm equipment on back roads.
Be aware:
• Of farm equipment during your travels on rural roads. You can help make the trip safe for both you and Pennsylvania farmers.
• You may encounter large equipment and tractors traveling at reduced speeds of 15-25 mph on rural roads.
• It only takes five seconds for you to close a gap the length of a football field if you are traveling 55 mph and the tractor is moving at 15 mph.
• Farmers have the same legal rights as other motorists to drive their vehicles on public roads.
• Don't assume farmers know you are behind them. While most farm equipment drivers regularly check to see how much traffic is behind them, their main focus is on the road ahead of them and vehicles approaching them. Therefore, if you are traveling behind a farm vehicle, do not assume the driver knows you are behind them.
Be patient:
• 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.
• Following a tractor for two miles at 20 mph only takes six minutes of your time.
• Yield to wide vehicles:
• If an oncoming farm vehicle is approaching you on a rural road, and you do not have room to safely pass it, bring your vehicle to a stop and then pull off the road to allow the farm vehicle to pass.
Courtesy and caution among all drivers is the key to protecting motorists, passengers and operators of slow-moving farm equipment.