×

Timely reminders for Safety Week

The Cambria County Farm Bureau is celebrating Rural Roads Safety Week April 14-20 by encouraging county motorists to travel safely on roadways this spring and throughout the year.

Motorists will begin seeing more farm equipment on Pennsylvania roadways as weather conditions improve. It is important to remember to slow down, be alert, stay at least six car lengths behind a slow-moving vehicle, and yield to wide vehicles that are approaching from the opposite direction.

Remember that farm vehicle operators are often seated up high which can make it difficult for them to see your car if you are following closely or in a blind spot and motorists should never attempt to pass unless they are certain that it is safe to do so.

To the distracted or impatient motorist, vehicles such as these can pose a threat when safe driving practices are not observed.

For example, if a car is traveling 55 mph and comes upon a tractor moving 15 miles per hour, it only takes five seconds to close a gap the length of a football field between the car and the tractor.

Don’t forget to reduce your speed when driving on roads where you might encounter large farm machinery.

Also make sure to slow down immediately when you see the Slow-Moving Vehicle (SMV) emblem, which is an orange triangle with a red border, attached to farm vehicles.

In order to accommodate motorists, drivers of slow-moving farm vehicles often pull onto the shoulder of a paved roadway to give other motorists a better view of road conditions and enough room to pass.

Keep in mind that if the shoulder is soft, wet or steep, the farmer cannot move aside, because it could cause the equipment to roll over. If the farmer is unable to safely pull his or her vehicle off the road, and you feel you must pass, do so with caution.

Please be safe and share the road so that we can all make it home safely at the end of the day.

Ralph Nagle

Safety Coordinator

Cambria County Farm Bureau

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today