Give farmers a ‘brake’ during spring planting season
Spring means it’s planting season here in the North Country and local law enforcement figures and agriculture officials are offering a friendly reminder to keep an eye out for increased farm equipment traffic on the roadways.
“This time of year, we are now beginning to see farm vehicles and equipment on the roads and motorists need to be ready to respond appropriately. These vehicles are extremely important to Oneida County’s agriculture community, which is our county’s largest industry," said Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol.
He and a few select others recently held their annual spring farm equipment roadway safety press conference.
“As our farmers take to the roads with their vehicles and equipment this time of year, we must be aware of their presence to ensure everyone’s safety. Please use caution when traveling near county farmland so we can all ‘Share the Road’ together,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr.
When motorists encounter a slow-moving vehicle on the roadway they should:
•Slow down immediately
•Increase following distance to create a safety cushion
•Be alert and watch for unexpected turns
•Pass with care only when it is safe and legal to do so
•Be aware that animal-powered vehicles may make unanticipated movements
•Be aware that equipment in tow may sway on the road
•Remember slow-moving vehicle operators may have poor visibility due to loads and equipment in tow
According to officials, operators of the farm tractors & equipment should be aware that the slow-moving vehicle triangle should be placed in the center of the back end of the vehicle, located two to six feet above the road, and kept clean and replaced when faded.
Each piece of agricultural equipment, whether self-propelled or used in combination, must separately display the required emblems. It is illegal to put slow-moving vehicle emblems on stationary objects – such as mailboxes or driveway posts.
Under state law, self-propelled agricultural equipment can be used on public roads after dark and when visibility is less than 1,000 feet when it has two white headlamps, one red tail light on the rear as far left as possible and two amber lamps at least 42 inches high and visible from the front and rear.
Furthermore, vehicles drawn by animals (horse & buggy) must display on the rear either a slow-moving vehicle triangle or a lighted lantern with a red lens at least four inches in diameter, with the center of the lens to be 42 inches above the ground, the lantern to be near the left edge of the vehicle.
The vehicle also should have 72 square inches of a high quality white or whitish-gray reflective tape.
OCSO image.
