Harvest time: Share the road with farmers

Hot, windy days are quickly turning Kansas wheat fields into amber waves of grain. With the harvest season approaching, and even underway in some parts of the state, more farm equipment and trucks will be taking to the roadways.

KDOT and the Kansas Highway Patrol offer the following tips to help you travel safely around farm equipment this harvest season:

Slow down: Farm equipment moves slower than you and typically doesn’t exceed speeds of 15-25 mph. Use the orange triangles on the back of farm machinery as a cue to reduce your speed.

Share the road: Tractors, trucks and combines take up more lane space than a normal vehicle. Do not pass unless you can clearly see ahead of both your vehicle and the machine you are passing. Farmers may not always be able to move over for you to pass, so remember to be patient!

Watch for turns: Be aware of farm equipment pulling on to roads from fields and vice versa. Also, farm equipment pulling to the right side of the road may not always be turning. Larger pieces of equipment require wide left turns, so allow plenty of room and time for them to turn.

Don’t assume: Most farmers regularly check for vehicles around them, but don’t assume they know you are there. Farm equipment can be quite loud, hindering the driver’s ability to hear your vehicle.

Stay alert: Expect heavy truck traffic near grain elevators and co-ops. Grain trucks may be stopped on the road while waiting to unload grain. Consider using an alternate route away from elevators.

See tracks, think train: Grain goes to market by train as well as truck! Be watchful when approaching railroad crossings.

As always, make sure you and your passengers are buckled up every trip, every time.

Check out this video for more safety tips!