RUSTBURG— “See a Tractor? Slow Down.”
That’s the message Campbell County Farm Bureau and the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office are sharing on a series of banners across the county.
The goal is to make drivers more aware of farm equipment on the roadways because Virginia farmers are seeing an increase in farm equipment-related accidents. In the past month, there have been at least three reported accidents involving farm equipment, said Matt Nuckols, chair of the Virginia Farm Bureau Safety Advisory Program.
“Fortunately, all the farmers survived, but we want to prevent these kinds of accidents from ever happening,” Nuckols said.
The National Safety Council reports that around 15,000 farm vehicles are involved in crashes each year in the U.S. Tractors generally travel at less than 20 mph, compared to cars cruising at 55+ mph, the NSC reports. A car traveling 55 mph takes 5 seconds to brake 300 feet—the length of a football field—to avoid colliding with farm equipment moving up to 20 mph.
There recently was an accident in Amelia County involving a tractor traveling near the site of an almost fatal 2018 crash. In that accident, Wallick Harding survived after his tractor was hit, but it was a long road to recovery. He petitioned the Virginia Department of Transportation to install two large, reflective tractor crossing signs.
But the signs don’t seem to be enough.
Less than a year ago, Amelia County farmer Kenney Barnard’s employee also was involved in an accident. That employee was driving a combine down a straight, two-lane road around 11 a.m. The combine was equipped with flashing lights, but the driver still hit him from behind.
Injuries were minor, but the equipment suffered $17,000 worth of damage. “How you don’t see a 12-foot-wide combine is beyond me,” Barnard said. “But it could’ve been a lot worse.”
Barnard said he’s had many close calls himself.
“If I put my hand out the window signaling I’m turning left, they think I’m waving them around me,” he said. “Drivers are in too much of a hurry.”
To help raise awareness of slow-moving, large farm equipment on roadways, Farm Bureau has started its SAFER initiative—Safety Awareness for Farm Equipment on Roadways. Part of that includes a contest that encourages farmers, community groups and civic and youth organizations to create visual displays depicting the size difference between farm equipment and regular vehicles. The goal is to have displays in high-traffic public areas—like the banners in Campbell County—that will help make drivers more aware of farm equipment on the roadways.
Drivers should slow down when approaching farm equipment, and give themselves enough space to stop. Equipment operators can’t see drivers who are following too closely.
Instead of passing farm equipment, motorists should wait until it turns off the road.
“Most of this equipment is not traveling very far, so if you do get behind one, a little bit of patience can go a long way,” Nuckols said. “If you’re willing to wait in line at a grocery store or for a table in your favorite restaurant, you should provide that same patience for farmers who grow and raise your food.”
-Virginia Farm Bureau
