Illinois State Police provides travel tips for
harvest season
Cooperation between farmers and motorists will ensure
safe travels
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[October 18, 2016]
SPRINGFIELD
- Harvest Season is in full swing and Illinois State Police
District 09 Commander, Captain Scott Compton, urges motorists to be
alert while traveling on rural roadways. |
As farmers move equipment from field to field they will be
traveling at much slower speeds than the rest of the motoring
public. Drivers should be aware of farm vehicles and prepare to slow
down when encountering them. Here are some harvest season safety
tips:
• Farm equipment, which travels at speeds of 25 mph or less, is
required to have a slow moving vehicle emblem (bright orange
triangle) mounted to the rear of the vehicle.
• If traffic begins to back up behind the farm equipment, the
operator should pull over in a safe location and allow traffic to
pass.
• Farmers should avoid movements of farm equipment prior to sunrise
and after sunset. Visibility is limited during these times.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Aug/26/images/ads/current/humanesociety_sda022411.png) • Even if the farm equipment operator motions for you to pass,
motorists should not attempt to pass farm equipment unless it is
legal and safe to do so.
• Remember, most farm equipment does not have turn signals. Often
times crashes between farm equipment and passenger vehicles occur as
the farm equipment is making a left turn and a passenger vehicle is
passing the farm equipment on the left. [to top of second
column] |
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Oct/18/images/ads/current/symphony_lda_HALLOWEEN_2016.png)
• Anytime you approach farm equipment you should slow down. Even vehicles
approaching from the opposite direction should slow down. Farm equipment may be
over-width and encroaching into the opposite lane of travel.
• When approaching farm equipment traveling in the opposite direction, be alert
for impatient drivers passing at the wrong time.
• As always, keep a safe speed, maintain a safe following distance, do not drive
distracted, and be patient.
Captain Compton added, "When approaching farm machinery from either direction,
slow down and give them plenty of room to maneuver. A few minutes of
inconvenience can prevent a lifetime of serious injuries."
[Officer Sean Ramsey, Illinois State
Police]
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2016/Oct/18/images/ads/current/charrons_bch041713.png) |