With harvest underway in southern Manitoba, motorists are being reminded to watch out for farm equipment driving down roadways.
Morag Marjerison is Farm Safety Consultant with Keystone Agricultural Producers. Marjerison says awareness is key, noting that safety on the roads is the responsibility of all motorists.
"Exercising patience and tolerance with each other are incredibly important," she says. "And I know that's easily said and not as easily done."
Part of being patient includes the anticipation that your commute could take a few minutes longer than normal. Marjerison says if you know that you could encounter farm machinery on your drive, you should consider leaving a little bit earlier, so as not to have to aggressively pass farm equipment in order to not be late for work or an important meeting.
Marjerison says there seems to be a misconception by motorists that farmers are the ones who should be moving over when meeting on a roadway. However, she notes realistically, that can be incredibly dangerous for a producer with big equipment.
"Equipment can become unstable very, very quickly and then we end up with farm machinery in the ditch rolled over," explains Marjerison.
She adds motorists might sometimes feel that the farmer is not being very friendly by not pulling over. In reality, she notes that sometimes it is because the farmer cannot move over without creating a very dangerous situation.
Marjerison says one thing that causes problems over and over is when motorists misjudge the direction that a farmer is turning. She notes sometimes they will pull towards the centre in order to get enough room to swing their equipment around when making a turn. However, another motorist will assume that the farmer is turning a different direction and will sneak down the inside.
"Don't ever try and sneak down the inside of farm machinery," she says. "It's not a good thing to do."
As for farmers, Marjerison's message is to exercise patience and to be aware that motorists are going to be frustrated. She says when safe to do so, farmers should move over and allow traffic to pass them. Marjerison encourages farmers to plan a route where it is possible to pull over safely every so often, if necessary. Marjerison also suggests avoiding peak traffic times if possible.
She says it is also important that all reflectors, lights, and signs on farm equipment is regularly cleaned and in good condition, noting they can quickly become dirty from the dust on the field.
Marjerison says another thing that farmers driving down roadways will want to be sure of is that loads are secure. Not only does that prevent items from falling off, but it also reduces the risk that happens when a farmer is forced to pull over to secure a load.
If there is a hired hand that may not be as familiar with driving equipment on the road, Marjerison urges the farmer to go over the list together of which route to take, how to safely pull over, and what the expectations are. In addition to that, she says it is important that a hired hand know the location of the field they are being sent to. Though this might sound odd, Marjerison says if for some reason they need to call for help, it is vital that they know what directions to give.
Farm equipment is allowed on roadways 24 hours day. But, Marjerison says it must have appropriate lighting. She adds that certain-sized equipment requires permits.
Marjerison reminds farmers that a valid driver's license is required for anyone driving farm equipment down a roadway. And, while there is not a minimum age requirement for driving a tractor on personal property, she notes that some all terrain vehicles (ATV) and utility task vehicles (UTV) have age requirements based on manufacturer's specifications.
Marjerison says one of the dangers at this time of year is often farmers are putting in long days in order to get the crop in the bin. For that reason, she says it is important to take regular breaks, to eat well, and drink plenty of fluids. And, while there is not a recommended number of maximum hours that a farmer works in a day, Marjerison says if a farmer notices that they are starting to make mistakes, that is often a sign that they are over-tired and need a break.
"I think that's a key warning, if you feel yourselves nearly clipping the hydro pole or you nearly missed the turn, we should be taking that as a lesson that okay maybe it's time to stop for a while," she says. "I think self-awareness is important."
Meanwhile, Marjerison says though this is a busy time of year, she wishes producers all the best and hopes for a safe harvest.