Agricultural Safety Awareness Week
During Agricultural Safety Awareness Week, the Wisconsin Farm Bureau reminds drivers to slow down and be aware of farmers driving tractors and other farm equipment on local roads. Farm Bureau also reminds farmers and growers to make safety a priority – on the roads and on the farm.
Triangular Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) emblems can help drivers identify tractors and other large vehicles that travel 25 mph or less. Additional road safety tips are below.
- At 55 miles per hour, it will take only five seconds to close a gap the length of a football field between you and a tractor going five miles per hour.
- Watch for hand signals that a tractor driver may use to signal turning or stopping.
- Do not pull out in front of farm equipment. It cannot stop or slow down as easily as a car, especially if pulling other equipment.
- If an over sized farm vehicle is coming your way from the opposite direction, make sureyou can pass it safely. If not, pull over and wait for it to pass.
- Remember that if you must slow down to 20 mph behind a tractor for two miles, you will only lose six minutes.
Together, farmers and non-farming members of the public can make our roads – and the business of farming – safer.
