Sheriff Reminds Motorists To Be Alert Of Farm Equipment On Roads

OSWEGO, IL — The Kendall County Sheriff's Office is reminding drivers to be aware of moving farm equipment on county roadways. With heightened farm equipment activity on roadways, drivers are asked to keep a safe distance, and to know when to expect such vehicles on the roads.

Most farm equipment related accidents happen in the hours immediately preceeding dusk and at dusk, according to the sheriff's office. That was the case in a recent car-farm equipment accident, when a car struck a tractor hayrack ride after dusk and injured 11.

Drivers should keep a safe distance from farm equipment in order to give visibility to both drivers and equipment operators. Farm equipment requires a wide turn radius and also must sometimes drive near the center of the roadway to avoid obstacles such as mailboxes, bridges or road signs.

The sheriff's office encourages farm equipment operators to make sure "slow-moving vehicle" emblems are properly positioned and that all equipment lighting is optional. Operators should also consider having a second car tailing the equipment when possible.

Operators of farm equipment are entitled by law to use roadways, and drivers must be prepared to accommodate that usage, the sheriff's office said.