If you need to pass a farmer pulling his equipment on the highway, try to make visual contact if possible. Wait until the machinery operator knows you're there. Many farm equipment operators will pull their machine over where there is a safe area. However, that's not always possible, especially if the edge of the roadway is steep or without a shoulder. If you're a farmer, make your implements as visible as possible, says Shutske.
State laws regarding machinery lighting and marking are relatively complicated.
They involve a combination of headlights, taillights, reflectors, flashers, and markings. Check with your local machinery dealer or law enforcement office for the details. Flashing amber lights are required at all times on tractors and combines manufactured after Jan. 1, 1970. Cell phones can be a danger for everyone driving on rural highways, including farmers. However, several studies have indicated that using a phone while driving increases the potential for a serious collision by a factor of four.