42 Story Idea? Email Paul.Nolan@Farms.com Better Farming | November/December 2024 . Everyday farmers face the challenges of daily farming. Your needs change from day to day as you try to get your job done. Find all the Farms.com Follow us @FarmsPrairies If you are driving on a road where the ditches haven’t been mowed, the chance of wildlife collisions is much greater, so slow down a bit. Also, slow down in any of the marked wildlife zones or any spots where you have seen animals before. Wildlife is often more active at dawn or dusk as well. Your stopping distance is also much greater if you are going fast. Another fact I remember from high school driving training is this: You are going 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h), and you come over a hill and see a train going across the track in front of you. You slam on the brakes and stop just before hitting the train. Now, same scenario, but you are going 70 m.p.h. (113 km/h). How fast will you be going when you hit the train? Give up? The answer is 58 m.p.h. (93 km/h). When you travel at a higher speed, your stopping distances are much greater. Slow down and enjoy the drive. Leave a bit early so you are not rushed. Make sure you plan for traffic disruptions, such as construction or oversize loads that will hold you up. Driving courtesy It doesn’t take much effort to be courteous when driving, as long as it is safe to do so. When meeting another vehicle on a gravel road, slow down and pull over to the right to save your windshield and their windshield. If you are at a stop sign waiting for a large truck or piece of equipment to turn onto the road you are on, back up a bit (if it’s safe) to give them a bit more room to turn. If you are passing a cyclist or pedestrian on a gravel road, slow down quite a bit and pull over to give them as much room as you can. If you are entering the highway from a side road and there is traffic on the highway, stop a bit further back than usual from the stop sign if it’s not too busy. That lets the highway drivers know you aren’t likely to pull out in front of them. If you see a large piece of equipment or an oversize load coming toward you, pull off onto a side road or approach if you can. Large equipment and loads are not very manoeuvrable. Don’t tailgate. Following too close won’t get you there any faster. Plus, if the driver ahead of you slams on his brakes for any reason, you will be at fault if you hit him. I was going along a busy freeway in the city not too long ago, and the vehicle in front of me slammed on the brakes while going 56 m.p.h. (90 km/h). Apparently, a cardboard box had flown out of the truck ahead and landed right in front of him. Luckily, there were no collisions. Well, there you have it – a few ideas for safer driving. Enjoy the fall and have a safe trip. BF Tractors, Trucks & Growing Grain RON SETTLER Ron has farmed for over 45 years in Lucky Lake, Sask. In addition to grain farming, he and his family also operate a mechanical repair shop.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc0MDI3