By Angie Johnson
As agricultural producers prepare for harvest season, it is crucial for motorists and farm equipment operators to share the road to prevent roadway collisions.
“Fall harvest is a busy and hectic time for all producers, as the weather is always the deciding factor if conditions are favorable to start harvesting efforts”, says Angie Johnson, NDSU Extension farm and ranch safety specialist. “Soybean harvest, along with silage corn chopping, is in full swing and there is an increased amount of farm equipment and slow-moving vehicles on our public roads. This means that equipment operators, who are driving farm equipment on the road to access their fields, and general motorists, must be prepared to share the road and sharpen their defensive driving skills to prevent crashes with farm equipment”.
In 2024, the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) reported 40 motor vehicle crashes involving farm equipment in North Dakota. Additionally, 15% of those crashes occurred in the months of August and October (tied). Furthermore, 68% of crashes with farm equipment occurred primarily on asphalt roads. Often, the difference in speed between vehicles and farm equipment is the primary cause of farm equipment collisions. Motorists approach the slow-moving farm equipment at high speeds, leaving them with only a few seconds to identify the hazard and react, which often results in a crash.
Source : ndsu.edu