It’s harvest season in Michigan, and there are a lot of farm vehicles out on the road in rural areas. That’s why the Michigan Farm Bureau is asking all drivers to be cautious when near them.
Bureau legislative counsel Andrew Bermeesch tells us it’s important to slow down and be patient for those large farm vehicles. If you’re going to pass one, make sure it’s not turning.
“Individuals are coming up behind them and they’re going fast, and as that vehicle is travelling, they think they can pass,” Bermeesch said. “Well, that farm vehicle may be turning left, and most accidents happen when that piece of equipment is turning into a driveway and someone is looking to pass. So, be particularly careful if you’re looking to go around the vehicle.”
Remember that if you can’t see the driver of farm machinery, they can’t see you.
According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, while only 19% of Americans live in rural areas, 45% of traffic crash fatalities occurred on rural roadways from 2016 to 2020. Also, Michigan crashes involving farm equipment rose from 195 in 2021 to 214 in 2022, a nearly 10% increase year-over-year.
Bermeesch says when you see an ag vehicle, give it a break.
