Everyone in rural Alabama has cussed under their breath while stuck behind a tractor or other slow driving vehicle. In Alabama, agriculture is a vital part of our economy, especially in northern Alabama.. The poultry industry employs tens of thousands of Alabamians. Corn, soybeans, wheat, and cattle are also large important segments of our local economy.
Growing up, I worked nearly every day on my grandpa’s farm. I can remember my grandpa frequently complaining about inconsiderate drivers.
We have all been in a rush to get somewhere or meet someone only to find ourselves stuck behind a farmer on a tractor or a combine. The longer we are stuck in these positions the more inconsiderate we assume the farmer is being. However, Slow Moving Vehicles (SMV) also have a right of way on the road as well. And every farmer is trying to get off the roadway as quickly as possible.
Depending on where you are located in the US, the types of slow-moving vehicles that folks encounter can vary. In Alabama, particularly during planting and harvesting season, tractors are the norm. While very few people drive slowly enough to not be inconvenienced when stuck behind a tractor, it is important to not allow their presence on the roads to get the best of us at the expense of safety. Farmers play a vital role in all of our lives and often roads separate and divide their land causing them to have to use those roads to get from one field to the next.
Not all slow-moving vehicles are tractors. One of the ways to know if you are approaching an SMV is to look for the reflective emblem on the back of the vehicle. All self-propelled machines that are designed to travel 25 mph or less are required to have this reflective SMV emblem on the back of their machine. In Alabama, if you are behind a SMV, it’s probably a farmer.
Motorists
There are several safety precautions folks should keep in mind when they encounter an SMV. Especially in Alabama where slow-moving vehicles such as tractors are more frequently encountered at different times of the year.
- Be aware of warning signs indicating the presence of SMVs on the highways. Start reducing the speed of your vehicle and staying alert for other types of farm equipment such as trailers that might be working alongside the tractors.
- Different Times of year may require more alertness and attention than others. For folks in Alabama, late February to early November are times to stay vigilant about who we might be sharing the highways with. Those are the busy seasons for farmers.
- The most important and safest precaution that folks can take is to be patient! Other motorists in front or behind you may be just as frustrated as you are. Often in these situations, motorists do not always follow the traffic laws. So being patient can also help avoid a potential accident resulting from a less level-headed motorist.
Being patient is one of the most important things we probably all could improve on when out on the road. Tractors are very heavy machines. Encountering one at any rate of speed is going to take a hefty toll on a motorist. Farmers tend to be good-hearted people that are down to earth. Chances are they are not purposefully trying to inconvenience anyone and are just like you would like to wrap their day up after a hard day’s work.
Farmers
Farm equipment is designed for power. Not speed. With all of that power used to grow the crops that we put on our tables, comes at the expense of mobility. Farmers are often looking for an opportunity to pull to the side of the road so that motorists can safely pass. Being patient in this situation can also be key. A spot on the side of the road that looks sufficient to a motorist for the tractor to pull over might not be from the farmer’s perspective.
Operators of SMV, while they are often the providers of critical jobs like farming, they too have a responsibility to keep an eye out for ways that can help everyone on the road return home safe after a hard day’s work. Operating an SMV places a greater degree of responsibility on the driver. Being around slow-moving vehicles often gives people like farmers, a better understanding of how people react most often in those situations and the best ways to respond when motorists around you do something irrational.
- Displaying the SMV emblem on the back of your vehicle is one critical safety precaution. Tractors may be large but with distracted drivers, a John Deere tractor can easily blend right into a cornfield in the background. Not only will this aid motorists to be able to see you better but under Alabama law, it is required to be placed on the back of all slow-moving machines.
- Be patient. Not all motorists are aware of the procedures they should take when encountering a tractor on the road. Some folks may be traveling through from out of state. Pulling over to the side of the road may be an inconvenience when you are just wanting to wrap up your day. But it might just save some impatient motorist’s life who might attempt to make a dangerous pass.
- Make sure to have enough space to pull to the side of the road. There can be pressure to pull over before there is an ideal spot to do so. Driving such a large machine can also create blind spots. Make sure to keep an eye out for mailboxes, and power line posts when pulling to the side for cars to pass.
- Help motorists to pass. Sometimes motorists in smaller vehicles are unable to fully see around the farm equipment that you are driving. In these situations, it is good to give a friendly wave to drivers who are wanting to pass when the road is clear and safe for them to do so.
Hopefully this fall we can all enjoy safer roads and have more patients when we are driving. Some of the worst personal injuries can result from crashing into a large piece of farm equipment. Remember, if you hit a tractor, your vehicle is going to take the majority of the damage. Having more patience on the road is one step we all can take to avoid personal injuries from SMV accidents. Under Alabama law farmers are not required to pull to the side of the road. So if they do it is probably best that motorists stick to using friendly hand gestures in recognition of their courtesy when passing them. In the unfortunate event that you or a loved one finds themselves in an accident with an SMV or a motorist has had an accident with your SMV, contact the car accident lawyers at Garnett Patterson Injury Lawyers for a free case evaluation.