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Watch Out for Tractors and Combines

Police are reminding motorists to share the road with slow moving farm equipment during the Harvest Season.

The OPP are preaching patience and caution during the harvest season. 

As farmers work to get their crops out of the ground, you will notice more and more farm vehicles driving on the raods in the region. Police are reminding drivers to watch out for left turns because not all farm vehicles have turn signals. The farmer is responsible for doing a hand signal in that case, similar to a cyclist. Also it is illegal to pass farm equipment on a double line. 

Here is a complete list of tips from police to keep everyone safe during the Harvest. 

- Be aware that farmers with long or broad equipment sometimes need to make a wide turn. If a tractor swings right, be careful, it may be starting a left turn.

- The farmer may be unable to pull off the road due to equipment weight or shoulder issues. Wait for a safe opportunity to pass.

- Leave a wide berth when passing. Some farm equipment takes up more than one lane and some pieces of equipment have pieces protruding that can be hard to see.

- When finished passing, don’t stop or slow down in front of the farm vehicle. Large equipment can’t brake as quickly as a car.

- Recognize slow moving vehicles by the slow-moving vehicle sign. These signs are a reflective orange triangle bordered with red. It is used to warn drivers that a vehicle - as the name suggests - is moving slowly.

- Realize that farm vehicles travel around 35 km/h. Slow down when you see farm equipment on the road and be prepared to stop.

- Be courteous with farm vehicle operators; treat them as you would any other vehicle driver on the road. Aggressive driving isn’t just unsafe, it’s against the law.  Aggressive drivers should be reported to police

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