Motorists reminded to be on the lookout for farm equipment on rural roads

Apr. 24—State officials are reminding drivers to be alert for large farm equipment on rural roads as farmers return to their fields for spring planting.

The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau each year partners with PennDOT, the agriculture department and state police to spread a message of staying safe on rural roads during the height of the spring planting season.

"Farmers make the safety of other motorists a top priority when we must move equipment on the roadway and we ask that drivers help keep us safe as well," Chris Hoffman, farm bureau president, said in a release. "We don't want to cause an inconvenience to anyone and will often pull over to allow others to pass when it's safe to do so.

"We just ask that drivers remain patient when following farm equipment and keep a safe distance. By slowing down and using caution and commonsense, drivers can avoid costly crashes and save lives."

Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding urged motorists to share the road as they drive through farm country.

"Rural roads are the critical link from farm-to-table," he said.

According to preliminary PennDOT data, there were 83 crashes involving farm equipment on roads in 2023, resulting in two fatalities and six suspected serious injuries. In total, there were 33,356 crashes on rural Pennsylvania roads last year, resulting in 607 fatalities, further underscoring the need for safety on rural roads.

"PennDOT urges all drivers to use caution on rural roads, especially in spring and summer months when farm

vehicles are most common," PennDOT Executive Deputy Secretary Larry Shifflet said. "Safety on our

roadways is everyone's responsibility. Please slow down when approaching large farm equipment, always avoid

distractions, and buckle up for a safe drive."

Pennsylvania has over 52,000 farms and 7.3 million acres of farmland next to many rural roads, said Trooper Tristan Tappe, community affairs officer for Greensburg-based Troop A.

"During springtime, drivers should expect to encounter all types of farm machinery travelling on these roads," Tappe said.

Farm equipment can legally be operated on roads, including at night, but farmers are required to follow certain safety guidelines depending on the size of the equipment being moved.

All farm equipment traveling at less than 25 mph is required to have a slow-moving vehicle emblem (an orange triangle with red

outline) on the back of the equipment to alert other drivers.