Farm equipment on rural roadways is a common sight across Midwestern Ontario, and police say patience and awareness are key to keeping everyone safe.
Speaking with CKNXNewsToday.ca, Craig Soldan with the Ontario Provincial Police said that while some drivers get frustrated being stuck behind slow-moving machinery, complaints are relatively rare.
"Thankfully, we don’t get a lot of complaints about drivers getting stuck behind farm equipment," Soldan said. "But they may find themselves behind machinery that clearly can’t travel at highway speeds."
Soldan noted that farm vehicles are legally allowed on public roads as they move between fields, often travelling 40 kilometres per hour or less. He’s urging motorists to remain patient.
"Farmers need to use our roadways to maintain their farm properties...it’s the only way they can get in and out," he said.
That includes situations in which large equipment may take up more than one lane. Soldan says that, while frustrating, it can be necessary.
"If their equipment is so large that they can’t stay within a single lane...they can actually move over," he explained. "They just can’t do much about it and they do have a legal right to be on the road."
In some cases, drivers may also encounter farm equipment temporarily stopped on the roadway, such as during harvest.
"If there is an obstruction...you can always just take an alternate route," Soldan said, adding most delays are short-lived.
While farmers do have that access, they are still required to follow the rules of the road under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
"They are obligated by law to stop at stop signs and only proceed when it’s safe," Soldan said. "If they violate the laws...they may receive a ticket."
At the same time, Soldan says many of the most serious incidents involve mistakes by drivers, particularly when approaching machinery at high speeds.
"You may come over a hill...and all of a sudden there’s a tractor there," he said. "We’re seeing impacts from behind."
According to the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, slow-moving farm vehicles are significantly more likely to be involved in fatal collisions per kilometre than other vehicles, with improper passing a major factor in crashes.
Soldan says drivers should be watching for slow-moving vehicle signs, reduce speed early, and only pass when it’s clearly safe.
"Take a look way ahead on the roadway...allow that proper time to decrease your speed and approach it safely," he said.
Ultimately, he says safety on rural roads comes down to cooperation.
"Please be patient. Share the roadways with our local farmers," Soldan said. "They’ve got a job to do too...and everyone gets home safe."
