9-16-2024 4:21am

STATE REMINDS

STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND MARYLAND FARM BUREAU OFFER SAFE DRIVING TIPS FOR HARVEST SEASON

Harvest image courtesy of the Maryland Department of Agriculture

Motorists Urged to Share Road with Farm Equipment in Rural Areas

(September 12, 2024) – The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration, in partnership with the Maryland Department of Agriculture and Maryland Farm Bureau, is reminding motorists to share the road with large farm equipment as the fall harvest season is beginning in the state.

“As the days get shorter and farmers across the state begin to harvest their crops, motorists should expect to see large farm equipment along our rural roadways” said State Highway Administrator Will Pines. “Let’s all share the road and do our part to keep everyone safe on our roadways.”

There are more than 12,500 working farms across Maryland, and farmers use large, slow moving farm equipment, including combines during the harvest period, which extends September through November. Since 2020, there have been 185 crashes, including three fatalities, involving farm equipment on Maryland roads.

"Maryland motorists are urged to stay alert for large farm equipment traveling on our roads and to allow for room to pass," said Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks. "Together we can keep Maryland farmers and travelers safe this harvest season."

Tips for drivers

When encountering farm equipment along the road, do not assume the farmer can immediately move aside. If safe, the farmer may pull over to allow drivers to pass. However, road shoulders may be soft, wet or steep, and this can cause a farm vehicle to tip over, or the shoulder may be unable to support a heavy farm vehicle.

In addition to leaving more time for your travels, the following tips will help ensure the safety of motorists, passengers and operators of slow-moving farm equipment:

Pass farm equipment with extreme caution and do not pass while navigating turns, on hills or where sight distance is limited.
Be mindful of vehicles behind you that may also try to pass.
Do not pass if you are in a designated “No Passing Zone” or within 100 feet of any intersection, railroad grade crossing, bridge, elevation structure or tunnel.
Do not assume a farm vehicle that pulls to the right side of the road is going to turn right or is letting you pass. Due to the size of some farm equipment, the farmer must execute wide left- turns. If you are unsure, check the operator’s hand signals and check the left side of the road for gates, driveways, or any place a farm vehicle may be turning.

“Maryland farmers work tirelessly every day to keep our communities fed, and they deserve to be safe on the roads,” said Maryland Farm Bureau President Jamie Raley. “We urge all Maryland motorists to stay alert and be mindful of the farm equipment sharing our roadways to ensure the safety of both drivers, their passengers and our farmers.”

For more information about agriculture in Maryland, visit mda.maryland.gov or https://mdfarmbureau.com. For information on Maryland roadways, visit roads.maryland.gov.