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RoadSmart Report | July, 2003
Watch for farm vehicles on the highway
Motorists who take advantage of the increased highway speed limit
this summer should take extra caution when sharing the road with
farm equipment.
Saskatchewan’s agricultural base means that farm equipment
such as tractors, combines, large cultivators etc. may be on highways
from spring to fall.
"Farm vehicles tend to travel at a much slower speed, between
10 and 30 km/h," said Shannon Ell, SGI’s Supervisor of
Traffic Safety Promotion. "Other vehicles on the highway can
come upon them very quickly. With the increased speed limit on some
highways, drivers travelling faster may not realize that it takes
their vehicle longer to slow down or stop."
Each year on average in Saskatchewan there are more than 80 collisions
involving farm vehicles.
Ell says that drivers who come upon a farm vehicle should change
lanes if it is safe to do so. If a driver is unable to change lanes
safely, he should slow down and wait until it is safe to change
lanes and then pass.
However, it’s important to always be aware that farm equipment
may be on the highway during the growing season, so that a driver
isn’t surprised when he comes over a hill or around a curve
and finds himself almost upon a farm vehicle.
"Coming over an incline or around a bend in the road, a driver
can’t see the highway immediately ahead, and should use extra
caution in those areas," says Ell. "The distance between
a fast-moving vehicle and a slow-moving vehicle will close very
quickly, so being aware and alert will help you be prepared to slow
down or stop."
Contact:
Shannon Ell
Supervisor, Traffic Safety Promotion
SGI
Regina
(306) 775-6179
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