HomeMy WebLinkAboutFarming '88, 1988-03-30, Page 40PAGE 16. FARMING ’88, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1988.
Safety a concern
for all farmers
on roadways too
Farm equipment o 1 Ontario
roads is a familiar sight, unfortu
nately accidents involving farm
equipment on roads are all too
common. The use of farm equip
ment on roads has increased
steadily in the last few years,
largely because of the increased
size of individual farm units. Many
farmers have land in several
different locations that can be
several miles apart, thus forcing
them to move their equipment on
the road. Farm equipment using
the roads varies in size and
purpose, however all the equip
ment has one thing in common - it
moves very slowly in comparison to
normal traffic.
The familiar triangular slow-
moving vehicle sign (S.M.V.) that
was introduced in Ontario several
years ago, helped warn motorists
of the hazards, associated with
slow moving vehicles, however the
responsibilities of persons operat
ing farm equipment on the roads,
go far beyond this sign.
THE OPERATOR
The Highway Traffic Act in
Ontario specifies that a person
must be 16 years of age in order to
drive a farm tractor or self-propell
ed implement of husbandry on the
highway. No drivers’ license is
required as long as the operator is
sixteen years of age. Farm equip
ment operators under the age of
sixteen are only allowed to drive
directly across the road, not along
the roadway.
It requires considerable skill and
experience to operate farm ma
chinery on roadways. Tractors and
other farm equipment are reason-
ably stable at normal operating
speeds however, road speeds of 20
milesperhour andgreater, may
create a variety of hazards that an
inexperienced operator may have
difficulty in coping with.
EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE
ROADWORTHY
Operators of farm equipment
areadvised tomakecertain that
their equipment is in top mechani
cal condition before they take it on
the road.
The following are some specific
points to consider in a pre-road
check:
1. Brakes - Independent brakes
should be locked together. In a
sudden or panic stop situation,
unevenbrakingcould throw the
machine in the ditch.
2. Tires - The tires used on all
farm equipment should be kept
inflatedto the proper pressure.
Suddenblow-out orflats can create
an extremely hazardous situation.
In addition to the immediate
hazard, they cancreate a secon
dary hazard - large immobilized
equipmentthatmay partially or
totally block oncoming traffic.
3. The S.M.V. Sign By law, all
tractors and vehicles of husbandry,
must have a slow moving vehicle
sign, positioned at the rear of the
vehicle when driven on the high
way. The sign should be centred,
no less than two feet or more than
six feet from the roadway, and
clearly visible from a distance of
500 feet.
Signs should be kept clean. The
retro-reflective material on the
sign is subject to fading and,
depending on use may fade within
two years. Signs that are faded or
damaged in any manner should be
replaced.
4. Lights - All farm vehicles,
when operated on the highway at
night(half-hourbeforesunrise and
half-hour after sunset), or under
conditions where there may be
insufficient light (eg. fog) must be
equipped with lights. Ideally, this
should include two white lights at
the front and one red light at the
rear.
The lighting requirements for
over-dimensional farm vehicles
(greater than 8 feet 6 inches wide)
varies with size, and may be
obtainedfromyour Farm Safety
Association.
5. Safety Chains - The Highway
Traffic Act specifies that a safety
Continued on page 17
Farm equipment provides many potential dangers for farm children as this poster from Michael Bailey of
Blyth shows.
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