Safety reminders when sharing the road

As we progress from planting season on into haying season, more tractors and farm machinery will be on the public road systems through the rest of the summer.

Safety and sharing the road is everybody's responsibility as collisions between farm machinery and passenger vehicles on rural highways is a major problem, with some instances resulting in deadly consequences.

Here are a few suggestions for farmers using public roads.

* Signal all turns with lights or hand motions.

* To allow traffic to pass, identify a safe place to pull off the road, and then stop. Avoid places with little room, drastic slopes or soft terrain; such areas can cause the equipment to roll over.

* Before traveling on the road with a harvester, adjust hitches, fold unloading augers or remove headers to make the machine as narrow as possible.

* Use lights and signs to alert motorists of a slow-moving vehicle.

* Use low or mid-range gears when traveling down hills to avoid loss of control.

* Keep headers and other weight as close to the ground as possible to improve stability.

* Keep machinery in safe operating condition.

* Let only experienced drivers operate farm equipment on public roads.

* Never allow extra riders on tractors or other equipment.

Slow moving vehicle emblems, reflectors, and flashing lights are universal warnings to motorists that the farm machinery is moving slower than the normal flow of traffic. Motorists should heed these warnings and use caution when approaching, passing and sharing the road with farm machinery. The following precautions should be taken by motorists to avoid collisions with farm equipment.

* Be extremely careful when passing farm machinery. Although a tractor may appear to be stopping beside the road or turning right, it might actually be turning left. Look for gates, driveways or access roads on the left side of the road which may indicate a left turn.

* Be aware that what might appear as a tractor with a single wagon may actually be a tractor with several attachments. This might mean that more room is required for passing.

* Slow down as soon as you see farm machinery. The size of tractors and implements can be deceiving when trying to determine the distance between your car and the machinery.

* Be patient. A few minutes of traveling at a slow speed is not worth the risk of accident.

Together we can make rural roads safer for farm machinery and passenger vehicles.

Special Note: K- State agricultural specialists and other experts examining agricultural issues facing Kansas and the nation can now be heard on "Agriculture Today" broadcasted on KGGF 690 AM of Coffeyville. Daily from 10 a. m. to 11 a. m. listeners can hear Eric Atkinson of the K- State Radio Network interview a variety of folks on a variety of agriculture topics.

Editor's Note: Delta George is a KState Research and Extension agriculture and 4H extension agent assigned to Bourbon County. She may be reached at (620) 2233720.