Harvest season is fully underway for Hoosier farmers. That means Hoosier motorists will begin to see large slow-moving farm equipment traveling Indiana’s roads and highways.
The Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Indiana Department of Transportation, and the Indiana State Police want to encourage motorists to slow down, be alert and be patient on roadways this fall.
“As harvest season begins, we caution all motorists to be mindful of all farm equipment that may be on or near the roadways,” Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith, Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “Thank you to the Indiana State Police and the Indiana Department of Transportation for partnering with my office on this important safety announcement.”
From 2020-2024, 22 occupants were involved in crashes with farm equipment in Indiana which resulted in seven deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration*.
“Safety on our roadways during harvest season is a shared responsibility,” said Indiana State Police Superintendent Anthony Scott. “We ask that motorists exercise patience and grant our farming community the necessary space to safely navigate the roads as they work to harvest their crops and provide for families across Indiana.”
While the term “farm equipment” encompasses a wide range of vehicles, during harvest season this could include tractors, combines, grain carts, grain wagons 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.
“Drivers must practice patience and courtesy when they encounter farm equipment on the road,” said INDOT Commissioner Lyndsay Quist. “Agriculture keeps Indiana’s economy moving, and farmers require extra time and space to do their jobs safely.”
The following list includes several safety tips for motorists approaching large farm equipment:
- Farmers will pull over when they are able to let motorists pass, but it may take time for them to get to a safe place to do so.
- Be patient. Farm equipment is wide, sometimes taking up most of the road.
- Be careful when passing. Do not pass in a designated “No Passing Zone” or within 100 feet of any intersection, railroad grade crossing, bridge, elevation structure or tunnel.
Do not try to pass slow-moving farm equipment on the left without ensuring that the farmer driving is not planning a left turn. It may appear that the driver is pulling over to allow a vehicle to pass when the farmer is actually preparing to turn. You will drive right into its path, endangering yourself and the farmer.
Additionally, avoid tailgating as some farm equipment might have to make sudden stops along the road. Allow plenty of time to get to a destination, be aware of alternate routes and avoid distractions.
For a list of safety tips and a video from Director Don Lamb about harvest safety, click here or visit www.in.gov/isda/programs-and-initiatives/HarvestSafety/.
*2024 data from the National Highway Traffic Administration is the latest available. Click here or visit cdan.dot.gov/tsftables/tsfar.htm# for traffic safety facts.
ABOUT ISDA
The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) reports to Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. Major responsibilities include advocacy for Indiana agriculture at the local, state and federal level, managing soil conservation programs, promoting economic development and agricultural innovation, serving as a regulatory ombudsman for agricultural businesses, and licensing grain firms throughout the state.