Stuck behind a farm tractor? Please give it space

I’ve finished working in the field for the day and it’s time to head back to the farm and have dinner with the family. I check my equipment — slow-moving vehicle sign, beacon light, four-ways, transport locks on, load secured.

I’ve done my due diligence and am ready for the road. But will that be enough?

We know it is frustrating to get behind a slow-moving vehicle on the road and we understand it alters your plans.

The reality is we don’t want to be on the road any more than you want us to be there.

Our jobs require us to be on the roads at times. When we leave the field or the farm yard, we know we need to do all we can to make sure that we are visible and are travelling safely because we are sharing the road — one road.

What people don’t realize is that it can be nerve-wracking for us farmers on the road.

We have people travelling too close behind us, people passing when it isn’t safe; we’ve got large equipment travelling on narrow roads.

The one thing on our mind is getting from point A to point B safely, and making it home to our families.

There are many efforts within our farming industry to provide more education and generate more awareness on the importance of travelling safely on public roads.

The other part of the equation is making sure the motoring public understands what to do when they approach a slow-moving vehicle on the road. Here are a few tips:

Slow down — farm machinery typically travels between 30 and 40km/h. It takes seconds to close a 100-metre gap between you and slow-moving farm equipment.

Keep a safe distance when following farm machinery (at least 15 metres) and make sure not to be in the driver’s blind spots.

Only pass when it is safe to do so. Don’t put us, others or yourself in an unsafe situation.

Keep an eye out for turning. If you see a roadway to a field or farm, there is a good chance we may be turning, so please stay alert. Turns are often wide due to the size of equipment.

Last, we ask that people be patient and courteous. We’re working to produce and provide safe, quality food for your tables. You never know: the farmer on the tractor may just be the same farmer you buy your produce from on Saturday mornings at the market.

Farmer or driver, road safety is everyone’s responsibility. We’re all in this together.