Driving comes with its own set of safety issues, especially if you are driving farm equipment. This is because farm equipment is different to other vehicles due to the tyres and size of the machinery. If you have to drive your equipment on the road with other cars, there are some safety precautions you will need to take.
Farm vehicles take up more space on the road, so you will need to be wary of this when turning corners or if other cars try to overtake you. You will also need to travel at a slower speed due to the size of your tyres. Below are some top driving safety tips for farm vehicles.
Keep to the speed limit
You might have somewhere to be at a certain hour, but when driving farm vehicles it is important to remember to keep to the speed limit. Not only will this keep you safe on the roads, but it is safer for other vehicles too.
Farm equipment such as livestock equipment from South Africa, feed mixers and tractors are all much larger and heavier than normal cars. And it is because of this that you will need to drive slowly and carefully along roads. Look out for signs posted listing the speed limit and be sure to check your speedometer to ensure that you are not travelling above it. Speeding is never a good idea, no matter what vehicle you are driving.
Avoid certain times of day
Driving a tractor during rush hour is not advisable. This is not only because you will slow down the flow of traffic, but it can be dangerous for everyone involved if there is an accident. So you should avoid driving your tractor or other farm vehicles during rush hour both in the morning and evening.
Another time of day you should avoid is night time. Tractors do have warning lights that they can use to alert other cars that they are oncoming, but at night this could be confused with a normal car and you may not have enough space to manoeuvre around the other cars. If there is bad weather, rather wait for it to clear as you might lose control of the vehicle and get into an accident.
Do not overtake other vehicles
If you are in a rush, there is always the temptation to overtake the car in front of you. But this is not possible if you are driving a tractor, feed mixer or livestock equipment. You will have to remain behind a slow-moving car in order to remain safe and avoid getting into an accident.
It is a better idea to wait until a time of day when you know there is less traffic and then go out in your farm vehicles. This will save you from having to rush and deal with traffic and you will not have to overtake anyone in order to reach your destination on time. If a vehicle is overtaking you, be sure to slow down and let them pass so you can avoid an accident.
Use pilot cars
If you will be driving a long distance, you should use pilot cars in order to ensure both your safety and the safety of the drivers around you. Pilot cars are cars that are driven both in front of and behind the farm vehicles. They alert other drivers about the abnormal load or vehicle so that they can make way and drive accordingly.
Be sure to hang orange flags out of the windows of the pilot vehicles so other drivers can see them easily. You will also need to ensure that you do not drive too fast while using pilot cars because they are there to warn the other drivers. Try to stay in between the two cars throughout your journey. You will make it to your destination on time, safely and without any incidents on the road.
Look out for pedestrians
If you will be driving in a residential area or an area where people cross the road, you will need to be wary of pedestrians. You must ensure that you have a clear field of vision and if you are reversing, use your rearview mirror, sound your horn and use other reversing equipment to ensure that pedestrians move out of the way.
As you leave the exit of your farm, you will need to check if there is anyone walking along the road or getting ready to cross. If there are people walking along the road, be sure that there is enough space for them on the path so that you do not accidentally bump them. If they are crossing the road, wait for them to cross the road completely before you continue on your way.
Safety first
Driving farm vehicles on the road with other cars does not have to be a daunting prospect. If you practice some safety tips and tricks, you will find your trip easy and efficient. Remember to stick to the speed limit and avoid driving during rush hour. Use pilot cars and never try to overtake other vehicles. Watch out for pedestrians and leave enough room on the road for cars to drive safely around you.
Advice on Safe Driving with Tractors and Preventing Tractor Accidents https://t.co/WxT7TUFevx #ArriveAlive #Tractors pic.twitter.com/Yc4V5gES5i
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) October 20, 2018
Rural Safety and Preventing Stock Theft https://t.co/xbnM1PDMz2 #ArriveAlive #Crime #StockTheft #Livestock @AgriSAOfficial @vslandbou @DAFF_ZA pic.twitter.com/pkTTlaa2mv
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) May 7, 2020