Region reminds drivers to share the road

The Regional Municipality of Durham is reminding residents that harvest season is here, and that drivers may experience temporary delays on roads due to slow moving farm machinery. Motorists are asked to be patient and cautious when sharing the road with these vehicles.

                                                                                                                         Teresa Brophy

“Farmers have the important task of transporting the food that feeds our communities, and as part of that transportation they often use public roads to get from field to field, both day and night,” said the Region in a recent statement. “It’s important for motorists to be patient and cautious around farm vehicles to ensure safety for everyone. Durham Region farmers provide us with a safe, reliable and nutritious food supply.”

Watch for farm machinery and look for an orange triangle emblem on the back of any vehicle you do not recognize. Most farm equipment travels under 40 kilometres per hour. Slow down as soon as you see farm equipment on the road and be prepared to stop at all times.

Farm vehicles don’t always have brake lights or turn signals. Operators may not always be visible to demonstrate standard hand signals to show their intentions.

Farmers driving or pulling equipment on the road may have large blind spots. Be aware that farmers may not be able to see you.

Be patient and wait for a safe opportunity to pass. When approaching a farm vehicle, consider the following:

Farm vehicles with long or wide equipment must sometimes swing wide to make turns. For example, if a tractor swings to the right, do not attempt to pass. It may still be turning left.

Do not pass and then slow down or stop directly in front of the farm vehicle. Remember that large equipment cannot brake as quickly as a car. Give farmers a wide berth when passing.

Do not pass farm machinery at intersections. Vehicles may turn without the ability to signal or see traffic behind them.

Farmers may be unable to pull off the road due to equipment weight or road shoulder conditions.

Some farm vehicles take up more than one travel lane. Machinery that is half on the road and half on the shoulder may suddenly move completely onto the road to avoid mailboxes or other obstructions on the shoulder. Often, there are protrusions from the tractor, which can be difficult to see.

Durham Vision Zero is a long-term plan to ensure a safe transportation system that envisions a future that sees no serious injuries or lives lost on Durham’s roadways.