sharing the road farm machinery and motor vehicle safety

SHARING THE ROADFARM MACHINERY AND MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY

Learning Objectives

• Understand potential risk factors• Recognize hazardous traffic patterns• Recognize SMV emblem and proper use• Understand local laws and regulations• Appreciate closing time• Identify proper lighting and marking schemes

Potential Risk Factors

• Time of day• Weather • Blind spots• Traffic laws

Hazardous Traffic Pattern

• Patterns• Left turns across traffic

– Trailing motor vehicles attempts to pass

• Swinging wide to the left for right hand turn

• Transporting wide machinery

Action• Pull slowly off to the

side roadways– Pull into driveway

• Travel at slower speeds

• Be patient when following slow moving vehicles

Slow-Moving Vehicle (SMV) Emblem

• Fluorescent orange triangle with “retro-reflective” borders

• 25 MPH or less• Tractor machinery• Animal- drawn vehicles• Faded, damaged SMV

needs to be replaced

Speed Indicator Symbol (SIS)

•Use in conjunction with SMV•Greater than 25 mph and less than 40 mph•Post for the highest rate speed

Local Laws and Regulations

• SMV required – Visible 1,000 ft. from rear– 2 to 10 ft. from ground– Pointed up

• Lighting and marking required

• Obey all traffic laws and signs as well

Lighting & Marking- Farm Equipment

Lighting & Marking- Buggy

Lighting & Marking- Wagon

Use of Hand Signals

Closure Time

Closing Time

Summary

• Roadways are shared by many modes of transportation.

• Factors such as time of day, weather, blind spots, traffic patterns can lead to traffic accidents.

• Be aware of how to properly mark your equipment so it’s easily identifiable.

• Always follow the local laws and regulations.• Remember, closure time happens in a matter of

seconds!

References:

• Boosting Visibility of Ag Equipment (2008) The Ohio State University. Retrieved from http://ohioline.osu.edu/aex-fact/pdf/AEX_598_08.pdf

• Safety Means Slow-Moving Vehicle. (2006) The Ohio State University. Retrieved from http://ohioline.osu.edu/aex-fact/192/pdf/0192_1_67.pdf

• Lighting and Marking Recommendations for Buggies and Wagons (2009) The Ohio State University. Retrieved from ohioline.osu.edu/aex-fact/pdf/0596_4.pdf

• Increasing the Visibility of Agricultural Equipment on Public Roadways. (2012) Farm and Ranch eXtension in Safety and Health (FReSH) Community of Practice. Retrieved from http://www.extension.org/pages/65225/increasing-the-visibility-of-agricultural-equipment-on-public-roadways

For More Information

OSU Ag Safety & Health

The Ohio State University

Ag Engineering Building

590 Woody Hayes Drive

Columbus, Ohio 43210-1057

Email: jepsen.4@osu.edu

Phone: 614-292-6008

Website: agsafety.osu.edu

This project was supported by the USDA’s National Institute of Food

and Agriculture (NIFA) Rural Health and Safety Education Grant

Program- grant number 2012-46100-20144.