With fall harvest season officially underway across Wisconsin, agricultural leaders are urging motorists to exercise extra caution and patience on rural roads as heavy farm equipment moves from field to field.
According to the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation (WFBF), autumn brings a significant increase in farm machinery sharing roadways with commuter and tourist traffic. Because tractors, combines, and grain carts travel at much slower speeds than standard vehicles, unexpected encounters on hilly or winding rural roads can quickly become dangerous without proper driver awareness.
“Farmers are out working long hours to harvest the crops that feed our communities and power our state’s economy,” said WFBF President Brad Olson. “Taking a few extra seconds to slow down, put distractions away, and give farm equipment room to navigate can save lives.”
To keep both motorists and farm operators safe this season, WFBF highlights four essential road safety reminders for motorists:
- Slow Down and Be Patient Farm equipment typically travels at speeds between 15 and 25 mph. A car traveling at 55 mph can close a 300-foot gap behind a slow-moving tractor in less than five seconds. Recognizing the slow-moving vehicle (SMV) emblem—the reflective orange-and-red triangle on the back of machinery—should be an immediate signal to ease off the accelerator.
- Watch for Signals and Wide Turns Large machinery often requires extra space to maneuver into narrow field entrances or farm lanes. Farm implements may swing wide to the left before making a right turn. Motorists should never assume a tractor pulling to the left side of the lane is yielding or allowing space to pass; always check for turn signals or hand gestures befo re proceeding.
- Pass with Extreme Caution Only pass farm equipment when visibility is clear, road markings permit passing, and there is ample distance ahead. Never pass in no-passing zones, on hills, around curves, or near intersections. Additionally, ensure the farm operator can see your vehicle in their mirrors before attempting to pass.
- Eliminate Distractions and Stay Alert Distracted driving significantly reduces reaction time when encountering slow or turning farm implements. Motorists should put away mobile devices, stay focused on the road, and remain vigilant for farm machinery pulling out of field driveways or farmsteads, particularly during early morning and evening hours.
State safety officials also remind motorists that farm operators are doing their best to pull over when safe to do so to allow traffic to pass, but soft shoulders and narrow ditches often make immediate pull-offs impossible.
For more information on rural road safety, visit the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation website.
