Be sure you know the rules for operating your farm vehicle on public roads

Monday, April 2, 2012

Collisions while making turns and rear-end collisions account for most accidents involving farm vehicles. And almost all occur on two-lane, undivided roads

by MIKE MULHERN

In an average year, there are more than 220 "reportable" collisions on public roads in Ontario that involve farm vehicles. Most of those incidents, according to Bob Nichols, senior media liaison officer with the Ministry of Transportation, Ontario (MTO), occur on municipal, township and county roads.

"Only eight per cent of farm vehicle crashes occur on provincial highways, " Nichols says, adding that "96 per cent of farm crashes occur on two-lane, undivided roads."

Drawing on statistics from the Ontario Road Safety Annual Report (2004-2008), Nichols says that one-third of farm vehicle collisions "are turning movement collisions." He says 22 per cent are rear-end collisions, 14 per cent are sideswipes and 13 per cent are angle collisions.

Tragedy is also revealed in the statistics. In the five-year period from 2004-2008, nine people died in farm vehicle-related accidents – three drivers of farm vehicles plus five drivers and one passenger in non-farm vehicles. Among those fatalities were three people driving motorcycles. Also during that time, 44 persons were seriously injured, including eight drivers of farm vehicles along with one person described as a "hanger-on" to a farm vehicle. The injured included nine passengers and 26 drivers of non-farm vehicles, including seven who drove motorcycles.

While farmers have the right to move equipment at any time, provided they have proper lighting, Nichols recommends that farmers move equipment during "off-peak travel times" when possible.

"Farmers must ensure their tractors and wagons have been equipped with all lighting equipment and reflectors as required under the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) when operating on a highway," Nichols says, "and make sure their farm vehicles are visible when traveling in inclement weather."

Statistically, most farm vehicle collisions – 84 per cent – happen in clear weather. Just eight per cent occur in snowy conditions and five per cent when it's raining. Most collisions – 76 per cent – occur during daylight hours.

"When lights are required on a highway," Nichols says, "minimum lighting consists of three lights, two forward-facing white or amber lights and one rear-facing red light." He says even farm vehicles without electrical systems are required to have one forward-facing white light/lamp and one rear-facing red light/lamp. Drawn vehicles must also display a rear-facing red light/lamp.

"Farm vehicles which carry flammable materials or are structurally unsuitable to carry a light or lamp are exempt from the lighting requirements, but should limit travel when lights are required and use reflectors," Nichols says.

The slow-moving vehicle sign, according to the MTO farm guide (found at http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/pubs/farm-guide/part2a.shtml) "warns other road users that the vehicle displaying the sign is travelling at 40 km/h or less."

The guide says tractors and "self-propelled implements of husbandry (SPIH)" must display a slow-moving vehicle sign on the rear. "If one of these machines is towing one or more implements, the sign or an additional sign must be displayed at the rear of the combination."

Rules listed in the MTO farm guide include those that apply under the HTA. They cover careless driving, dangerous driving, impaired driving and failure to signal or improper signalling when using either electronic or hand signals. Rules that do not apply under the HTA include slow driving, seat belt requirements and allowances for travelling on the shoulder of the road. Interestingly, according to the HTA, mirrors are not specifically required on tractors. However, "a driver must be capable of seeing a vehicle approaching from the rear in order to make a safe turn . . . it may be an offense to turn in front of a motorist who is passing, even if the equipment is displaying signal lamps."

A driver's licence is not required to drive a tractor on the road in Ontario. However, drivers must be 16 or older to drive on, or along, a road. "Drivers under 16 are only allowed to drive a tractor or SPIH directly across a road."

If you've lost your licence and have been prohibited from operating a vehicle by the courts for impaired driving under the Criminal Code of Canada, you are "prohibited from operating farm equipment on any road or in a public place."

Farm equipment can be driven on the travelled portion of the road, on the shoulder of the road (except where prohibited) or on both portions of the road when operating wide equipment. Narrow farm equipment should be driven completely on the travelled portion or completely on the shoulder of the road.

Nichols says statistics indicate 45 per cent of farm vehicle drivers involved in collisions are coded as driving properly. "Out of all farm vehicle drivers driving other than properly," Nichols says, "44 per cent were executing improper turns and 30 per cent were coded as 'failing to yield the right of way.'"

Motorists, Nichols points out, have responsibilities, too, when encountering farm equipment on the roads. They have to account for the size of modern farm machinery moving on roads. "When passing wide farm vehicles," he cautions motorists, "don't assume the operator can move over to provide more room to let you pass." Shoulders, he says, may be too soft, wet or steep for the operator to move.

Another caution for motorists, Nichols says, concerns the slow movement of farm equipment. "The distance between the motor vehicle and the farm vehicle closes quite quickly," he says, adding to the risk of a rear-end collision. BF