The Westmoreland County Farm Bureau is recognizing Rural Roads Safety Week April 14-20 by encouraging motorists to travel safely on roadways.

As planting season begins and farmers return to the fields, tractors, farm trucks, wagons and other large equipment are once again traveling on roadways. These vehicles 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 mph, 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” emblem, which is an orange triangle with a red border, attached to farm vehicles.

Drivers of slow-moving farm vehicles often pull onto the shoulder of a road to give motorists a better view of road conditions and enough room to pass. If the shoulder is soft, wet or steep, the driver cannot move aside, because it could cause the equipment to roll over. If the farmer is unable to safely pull off and you feel you must pass, do so with caution.

I encourage all residents to be aware of farm vehicles and equipment during their travels on rural roads. By working together, we can make the trip safe for motorists and farmers.

Robert Graham

Cook Township

The writer is rural road safety spokesman for the Westmoreland County Farm Bureau.

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