By Samantha Wolfe
The arrival of fall means trees changing colors, football games, tailgates and apple cider. It also means farmers will be harvesting crops. While driving, you may encounter farm equipment, a combine or tractor pulling an implement. This equipment must operate on highways to get from farm to field or field to field. Farm equipment may be wider than one lane, or in some cases wider than the road, and travel at slow speeds, typically 10 to 15 mph.
If you approach a piece of wide farm equipment, slow down and be patient. The farmer understands your trip may be delayed, so they will pull off the road at the first available safe location to allow you to pass. Road shoulders may be narrow, steep, wet or soft, so they may not be able to pull over immediately.
Just as motorists are allowed to drive their vehicles on public roadways, farmers are legally allowed to operate farm equipment on these same roads. Caution, courtesy and patience are necessary to ensure the safety of motorists and operators of slow-moving farm equipment.