Tractors and Cars Don't Mix

Several times each year you hear the sad news of an accident involving a tractor and a car. It’s not that we have never been cautioned that cars and tractors don’t mix, it generally happens to someone else until it’s you in the news. So as a reminder we will use this opportunity to refresh everyone to keep safety in mind as you share the roadways. Remember antique tractors require more attention than a late model tractor when it comes to sharing the road.

In most cases traveling on the roadway with a tractor is done on the lesser traveled gravel or blacktop roads. The driver usually has traveled this road many times and feels rather confident that he/she is safe most passing cars are driven by neighbors who often have a family member somewhere in the neighborhood doing the same thing you are. The tractor many times is pulling a gravity wagon or bale wagon and the driver is often a younger family member, since farming is a family business. This scenario is played out many times a day throughout our farming communities without a problem. Then it happens someone makes the wrong decision, moves too close to the ditch, misjudges the distance needed to pass or turn into a drive way, etc.

An accident doesn’t give notice, there is no light on the dash that comes on and says oops look out there is another vehicle coming and the shoulder here is soft you don’t have room to move over, I need to stop. Before you know it you are on your side in the ditch. If you are lucky you will land clear with only your pride hurt and the expense of repairing the tractor and wagon. That is not usually the case. Always drive with the attitude that the best thing you can predict is that there is no way to predict. Will the driver allow his/herself time and room to slow down or stop if needed. If you are driving the old Farmall, the one without power steering, the one that doesn’t handle like the new pickup truck, you will have even less time to react. The important thing is to stay alert, and allow for reaction time. If you have to move over do so with caution and only if you can do so safely? Try not to make any sudden moves; you don’t want to confuse the driver of the vehicle and slow down. If possible make your intentions known by using hand signals; “that’s correct” hand signal generally there is no turn signals on the antique tractor either. Many accidents have occurred when one driver was confused as to what the other was doing. Most new tractors now have seatbelts a luxury seldom found on your antique so this is another area to use caution. If you slide out of the seat there is little anyone can do. Time of day is a big factor, is the sun in your eyes or the oncoming drivers? Is it getting dark out and do you have headlights or tail lights if yes do you have them on. They are a safety feature you can ill afford to ignore. Even when you take every necessary precaution you still have control of only your half of the situation and the other driver of his/hers.
Above all do you have your slow moving vehicle placard in place?

So to sum it all up; stay alert, use caution and allow time to react.

This is the first in a series of safety tips brought to you by Iron Memories, your Farming past brought back to life people.