Be careful when sharing the road with farm equipment, OPP warn

By William Proulx

Each fall, there is an increased number of farm vehicles on roadways, which police say can make for dangerous traffic situations if drivers are not cautious.

OPP have released the following tips to keep in mind while sharing the road with farm equipment:

• Recognize slow-moving vehicles by the orange triangle posted on the back, and use caution.
• Realize that farm equipment travels between 30 and 40km/h. Slow down when you see farm equipment on the road and be prepared to stop.
• Watch for left turns. Not all farm equipment has turn signals – watch for farmers signalling a turn using the same hand as a cyclist.
• Be aware that farmers with long or broad equipment sometimes need to make wide turns. If a tractor swings right, be careful – it may be starting a left turn.
• The farmer may be unable to pull off the road due to equipment weight or shoulder issues. Wait for a safe opportunity to pass.
• Leave a wide berth when passing. Some farm equipment takes up more than one lane and some pieces of equipment have pieces protruding that can be hard to see.
• When finished passing, don’t stop or slow down in front of the farm vehicle. Large equipment can’t brake as quickly as a car.
• Aggressive driving is not only unsafe, it’s against the law. Be courteous with farm-vehicle operators and treat them as you would any other vehicle on the road.