With planting season upon us, farmers are eager to get out into their fields and start getting seeds in the ground. And with the renewal of spring, it's an excellent time to think about being safe both on and off the farm.
One aspect of safety around farms applies to both city and rural folk alike-slow moving vehicles (SMVs). Just as with harvest time, farmers are out driving large, lumbering equipment on rural roads. Sometimes, this can be frustrating to drivers in a hurry to reach their destination. But it's crucial for those driving behind SMVs to remain patient. Sight lines are not often clear on rural roads, and passing an SMV can be extremely risky. It's best to just wait for the vehicle to reach its destination and make its turn, rather than attempt a dangerous pass into oncoming traffic.
In 2009 and 2010, there were 62 farm-related deaths in Illinois, according to statistics tracked by COUNTRY Financial; 12 of them were due to roadway collisions. In every single one of the roadway collisions, it was the motorist who died, and not the driver of the large farm vehicle. Operators of the large SMVs are at risk, however, despite the protection the vehicle cabs provide. COUNTRY's numbers show one-third of the farm-related deaths in 2009 and 2010 were due to tractor rollovers or run-overs.
It seems we're all in a hurry these days. But driving is difficult and dangerous enough these days with people talking on cell phones, texting, listening to GPS voices, and kids watching DVDs or playing video games as they ride along. There is really no reason to take your life-or the lives of your passengers or of those in oncoming vehicles-into your hands and try to pass an SMV. Farmers must remain patient while their crops grow all summer long. Drivers can be patient for a few minutes while a planter or tractor gets to where it needs to go.
Spring should be a time of renewal, and a time to look forward to what nature can provide for all of us. It should not be a time to mourn the loss of a loved one from an accident that could have been avoided.
