IDOT warns motorists it is farm traffic time

[September 19, 2008]  SPRINGFIELD -- As harvest season gets under way throughout Illinois, the Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois Department of Agriculture are reminding motorists that tractors and farm equipment are out on the roadways. Farmers are also reminded to get permits for overweight hauling during harvest season, and they need to pay special attention to posted roads and bridges.

"I'm asking for the patience and understanding of motorists during the harvest season," said Tom Jennings, acting director of agriculture. "Because of the planting delays caused by heavy spring rains this year, farmers will have a very limited time in which to harvest their crops in order to get them in storage before the first frost. So, it's more important than ever that motorists be alert for slow-moving farm vehicles and share the roadway until the harvest is complete."

In 2007, there were four fatalities involving crashes between cars and farm equipment. Over the past seven years there have been 1,751 crashes involving farm equipment on Illinois roads, resulting in 37 deaths and 502 injuries.

Vehicle versus farm equipment crashes:

• 2007 -- 267 crashes, 4 fatalities, 98 injuries

• 2006 -- 239 crashes, 5 fatalities, 64 injuries

• 2005 -- 244 crashes, 2 fatalities, 83 injuries

• 2004 -- 255 crashes, 9 fatalities, 105 injuries

• 2003 -- 232 crashes, 9 fatalities, 68 injuries

• 2002 -- 265 crashes, 8 fatalities, 84 injuries

• 2001 -- 249 crashes, 6 fatalities, 88 injuries

Farmers need to get permits allowing for overweight travel to and from fields and storage facilities. The permits allow vehicles to be between 10 percent and 20 percent over legal weight, depending on truck size. Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich signed the overweight harvest permits into law in 2004 in order to help Illinois farmers be more competitive globally by reducing overhead costs associated with the harvest.

"With a struggling economy and an increase in gas prices, this allows farmers to reduce the number of trips they have to make between their fields and elevators, which in turn will save time and fuel," said Milton R. Sees, secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation. "It's also important that we preserve our valuable infrastructure, and I urge farmers to make sure they are within the proper weight limits, especially on our posted roads and bridges."

As with all permits for operating over-dimension and overweight vehicles on public roads, the jurisdiction on whose roads the vehicle will be operated is the only authority that may issue the permit. This could mean that farmers may need two, three or more permits for a single trip. It is possible for one jurisdiction to authorize another to issue permits on its behalf, which can be especially helpful to farmers when arranged among counties and townships. The jurisdictions and authorities to contact for a permit are as follows:

• Township roads -- highway commissioner

• Road district roads -- highway commissioner

• County highways -- county engineer

• City streets -- city streets department

• State highways -- Illinois Department of Transportation

To get the most updated information on legal weight limits on specific routes and information on legal load bridges, farmers and grain haulers are encouraged to visit http://www.dot.state.il.us/tpublic.html#Truckers.

National Farm Safety Week begins Monday.

[Text from Illinois Department of Transportation file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]