SGI reminding people to be safe with farm equipment on roadways

As drivers head out to enjoy the last month of summer, SGI is asking them to be aware of farmers who are beginning their harvest.

“If you’re out on the roads, you might see farm equipment moving from field to field. We want drivers to keep that in mind,” SGI spokesperson Tyler McMurchy said.

Incidents involving vehicles and farm equipment happen regularly, with McMurchy saying there hasn’t been a month since 2013 without such an accident.

The numbers tend to increase between July and October.

“If you get stuck behind one as a farmer’s moving his equipment from field to field, just keep in mind that you want to be very patient and give them plenty of space,” McMurchy said.

Twenty-three collisions involving farm equipment led to eight injuries and two deaths last year.

“If you’re in a collision with a piece of farm equipment, the chance of injury or fatality is increased,” McMurchy said.

If a farmer needs to take their equipment into a city or onto certain highways, the proper permits need to be acquired before doing so.

There are also some restrictions for farmers driving equipment at night and on weekends.

At night, pieces of equipment up to 3.85 metres wide don’t need an escort. Equipment between 3.85 metres and 5.12 metres in width needs two escorts on double-lane highways and one trail vehicle on multi-lane roads. Any equipment over 5.12 metres wide are not allowed to travel at night.

On Sundays and holidays, if equipment exceeds 3.85 metres, farmers need to be off the highways by noon.

Any Friday prior to a holiday, equipment must be off the highways by 3 p.m. if exceeding 3.85 metres.

On all Fridays between the May long weekend and September long weekend, equipment must be off highways by 3 p.m. if it exceeds 3.85 metres in width.