Large farm equipment navigates downtown Millbrook on its way to a field east of town.
Planting season has begun in the area, bringing with it the seasonal bump in slow-moving vehicles and farm equipment travelling on County roads.
Peterborough County, in partnership with the Peterborough County Federation of Agriculture (PCFA) and the Ontario Provincial Police(OPP) – Peterborough County Detachment, want to remind motorists to stay alert and use extra caution during this busy time for local farmers who are moving agricultural equipment along municipal and County roads as they travel between fields throughout the region until the end of June.
To help keep everyone safe, the Peterborough County OPP will have a heightened presence in rural and farming areas during the planting season. Peterborough County, the PCFA, the OPP encourage all road users to keep some basic safety tips in mind.
Motorists should not expect slow-moving vehicles to pull over onto the shoulder. The size of the farm equipment and the condition of the road shoulder may make it unsafe or impossible for these vehicles to pull over. Before passing a slow-moving vehicle, ensure the roadway ahead is clear, and the operator of the slow-moving vehicle can see you. Avoid driving in blind spots and leave ample space when following so the operator can clearly see your vehicle.
Unsafe passing by impatient drivers endangers all road users, increasing the likelihood of serious collisions. Fines for unsafe passing are $490 fine accompanied by a loss of six demerit points if it is deemed to be a Careless Driving offence.
Instead of seeing this slow moving farm equipment as an obstacle to overcome, they should be seen as essential contributors to our local food system as well as our rural economy. Staff Sergeant Angie Kerr of the Peterborough County Detachment of the OPP reminds us that this is a time to “Share the Road by leaving plenty of space, slowing down, and ensuring you can clearly see ahead before attempting to pass. Making sure the equipment operator sees you and understands your intentions could save your life, and it helps keep both motorists and farm operators safe.”
Safe driving practices include learning to share the road, leaving plenty of space, and ensuring you can clearly see ahead before attempting to pass, and make sure the machine operator sees you and understands your intentions.
“As planting season gets underway, our farmers are spending long hours moving equipment between fields to put food on our tables. Peterborough County is proud to work alongside the Peterborough County Federation of Agriculture and the Ontario Provincial Police to promote road safety during this busy time. We ask all motorists to slow down, stay alert, and be patient when sharing the road with farm machinery. These vehicles are essential to our local food system and rural economy, and a few extra moments of caution can help ensure everyone gets home safely.”
Tracy Dafoe, President of Peterborough County Federation of Agriculture, explains that during planting and harvest season motorists share the road with large and slow-moving farm equipment, and ask motorists to slow down in advance when farm equipment appears ahead and anticipate what these travelers require: extra turning space, larger distances behind them to see other cars following behind and most of all respect for the challenge of operating these vehicles, and asks us to take a few extra seconds, slow down, wait to pass, or to improve our which will ensure everyone arrives home safely.