It's a dangerous time of year for farmers and motorists as more farm equipment is on the roads for the harvest season. To increase awareness of farm safety, the National Safety Council has declared this week the 54th annual National Farm Safety and Health Week. Sept. and Oct. are the months with the peak number of farm injuries and accidents due to harvest activities, Charles Schwab, associate professor of agricultural engineering and Iowa State Extension safety specialist, said.
Vehicle collisions are a major cause of accidents as farmers transport their equipment and grain.
According to the National Safety Council, there are several ways motorists can decrease the number of collisions. The most common collisions occur when drivers go to pass a farm vehicle which is making a left turn. Drivers should not assume that they can pass a tractor pulling to the right side of the road. It may be preparing to make a wide left turn. Motorists need to be alert to light or hand singles from the farmer when there are driveways or gates the vehicle may be turning into.