OPP are reminding motorists to share the road with farm equipment.
With an increased number of farm vehicles on local roads, OPP are offering their safety tips.
– Recognize slow-moving vehicles by the orange triangle and use caution
– Realize that farm vehicles travel around 35km/h. Slow down when you see farm equipment on the road and be prepared to stop
– Watch for left turns. Not all farm vehicles have turn signals – watch for farmers signaling a turn using the same hand signals as a bicycle rider
– Be aware that farmers with long or broad equipment sometimes need to make a wide turn. If a tractor swings right, be careful, it may be starting to make 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 from of the farm vehicle. Large equipment can’t break as quickly as a car
OPP are also advising that aggressive drivers should be reported.
