The spring planting season in Iowa is underway, and with that, comes the increased threat of accidents involving motorists and tractors and other farm equipment on area roadways.
Terry Basol, a field agronomist in north central Iowa and field specialist for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, tells RadioOnTheGo News motorists need to be patient when following slow-moving farm equipment.
“They’re going quite a bit slower than you are than average drivers out there. You think, you know, 60 miles an hour for an average travel speed, maybe, you know, depending upon the road. And those tractors are moving, you know, on average at full tilt, probably about 15 to 20 miles an hour. So you’re going to come up on them fast if you’re not paying attention. So give the guys room. They’re moving from one field to the other. And it’s only for two, three weeks here. Kind of like harvest when the combines are out on the road, you know, three weeks to a month, something like that. So just have patience and work through it.”
Basol says farm safety goes beyond everyday motorists as farmers need to watch their surroundings during this busy time of the year as well.
“Everything is really busy right now on the farm. We’re pushing hard to get all the acres done that we can in time. And before something gets done, step back, take a breath before you could possibly danger yourself or have an accident. So we can’t replace fingers and hands and things like that as well. So keep that in mind. Stay safe.”
According to the Iowa Department of Transportation, there are more than 1,100 collisions annually that involve motorists and agricultural vehicles in Midwestern states.
