{"id":3619,"date":"2022-04-21T18:01:37","date_gmt":"2022-04-21T18:01:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/engineering\/ABE\/INPREPared\/?p=3619"},"modified":"2022-11-18T15:27:54","modified_gmt":"2022-11-18T15:27:54","slug":"planting-season-is-here-remain-alert-to-large-farm-equipment-on-indiana-roads","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/engineering\/ABE\/INPREPared\/planting-season-is-here-remain-alert-to-large-farm-equipment-on-indiana-roads\/","title":{"rendered":"Planting season is here; remain alert to large farm equipment on Indiana roads"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Source: Indiana State Department of Agriculture<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"ISDA<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

INDIANA (April 21, 2022)<\/strong> \u2014 Planting season is quickly approaching for Indiana\u2019s 94,000 farmers. With the warm weather and sunshine, Hoosier motorists will also see more large slow-moving farm equipment traveling Indiana\u2019s rural roads and highways. The Indiana State Department of Agriculture<\/strong><\/a>, Indiana Department of Homeland Security<\/strong><\/a>, Indiana Department of Transportation<\/strong><\/a>, Indiana State Police<\/strong><\/a> and Hoosier Ag Today<\/strong><\/a> want to encourage motorists to slow down, be alert and be patient on rural roadways this spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur farmers have an enormous job to do, feeding us and the rest of the world,\u201d said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch<\/strong><\/a>, Secretary of Agriculture. \u201cAnd with that job comes a tremendous responsibility; let\u2019s help our farmers out where we can. When you see large farm equipment traveling our Hoosier roadways slow down and give them space so everyone can get where they are going safely.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Indiana, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration<\/strong><\/a>, in 2020 three vehicles were involved in crashes with farm equipment, which resulted in two deaths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDuring the spring and fall seasons Indiana sees a drastic increase of large farm equipment on our rural roads and highways,\u201d said Doug Carter, Indiana State Police Superintendent<\/strong><\/a>. \u201cIn our strong agricultural state, it is critical that Hoosier motorists know the steps to take when approaching farm equipment on the roadways to ensure we all make it home safely to our families.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the term \u201cfarm equipment\u201d encompasses a wide range of vehicles, the most common types motorists will encounter during planting season include sprayers, tractors pulling planters or tillage equipment, and large trucks hauling agricultural products. These vehicles are wide, sometimes taking up most of the road, and often travel at speeds no greater than 25 mph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following list includes several safety tips for motorists approaching large farm equipment:<\/p>\n\n\n\n