Sharing the Road Safely with Farm Equipment: What You Need to Know

As the busy growing season kicks into high gear, residents across Ward 11 will be sharing our rural roads with more tractors and other farm equipment. These machines are essential to our local agricultural economy, but they also present some unique safety challenges that we all need to be aware of.

Understanding the Orange Triangle

If you see a bright orange triangle on the back of a vehicle, that's the Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) sign. This indicates the equipment cannot exceed 40 km/h by law. When you encounter one of these signs, reduce your speed, maintain a safe following distance, and pass only when conditions are completely safe.

The Statistics Tell a Story

Federal transportation data shows that slow-moving vehicles face collision rates up to 4.8 times higher per kilometre travelled compared to regular traffic. The majority of these incidents occur during daylight hours on dry pavement, typically resulting from drivers underestimating equipment speed or attempting unsafe passing maneuvers.

Guidelines for All Drivers:

• Recognize the orange triangle as your signal to slow down and adjust expectations

• Exercise patience - rushing past farm equipment isn't worth the risk

• Be alert for wide turning movements and sudden stops

• Remember that farmers are working to support our community's food system

Recommendations for Equipment Operators:

• Maintain headlights during all daylight operations for enhanced visibility

• Ensure current SMV signage is properly displayed on all equipment

• Keep vehicles on the traveled portion of roadways, avoiding soft shoulders

• Complete comprehensive equipment inspections before road travel

• Eliminate distractions like mobile devices or eating while operating

• Allow extra time for safe road entry and turning maneuvers

Mutual respect and awareness between motorists and agricultural operators help ensure everyone reaches their destination safely. Our farming community plays a vital role in Ward 11, and supporting them means sharing the road responsibly.

Key Takeaway: The orange triangle isn't just a sign - it's a reminder that safety depends on all of us working together. Please drive safely and share the road with farm vehicles.

For more road safety tips and webinars, visit ofa.on.ca/issues/transportation