The Catskill Chronicle

LIBERTY, NY (June 14, 2011) – Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County has partnered with Thunder 102.1, Callicoon Cooperative Insurance Company and Mike Preis Insurance Company to highlight driving safely on our rural roads.

A new public service campaign will be airing on the radio to remind travelers to “drive with reason as it’s farming season!”

During the busy farming seasons such as spring planting, summer and fall harvest, Cornell Cooperative Extension offers some tips for motorists.

What is an SMV sign?

SMV stands for slow moving vehicle. It is an orange triangular sign outlined in red reflector material. The SMV sign must be displayed on all farm equipment designed to operate at speeds 25 miles per hour or less when traveling on the road.

When you see a SMV sign:

• Slow down immediately and use caution.
• Avoid passing on double yellow lines, around blind curves or hill crests, or other vehicles in line behind the farm equipment.
• Watch for hand signals, turn signals, driveways or other signs that indicate the slow moving vehicle is preparing to turn.
• Pass with caution, slowly and deliberately, watching for other traffic and sudden turns. Obey normal traffic laws.
• Above all, be patient and kind by staying behind.

Farm equipment may use other safety alerts like:

• Lights and reflectors positioned to the extreme left and right of their sides
• Driver use of turn or hand signals
• Reflector tape (usually white, silver or red)
• Use of lights from sundown to sunrise
• An escort vehicle that may display a flashing, oscillating or rotating light or warning lights.

Is that farmer pulling over to allow me to pass? Not necessarily!

• Accidents occur when motorists hurry around farm vehicles, resulting in injury or death.
• Large farm equipment making a left turn needs extra space. Equipment may be pulling over to turn left. Depending on the field entrance, tractors also may appear to be pulling toward the center or left but will be turning right. Wait until the tractor & equipment clear the roadway for you to continue.
• Tractors move into the center lane to avoid hitting guardrails or mailboxes that those following can’t see.
• Tractor operators can’t always pull off the road immediately due to ditches or unavailable safe space.

One final note:
SMV signs may only be used for motorized vehicles designed to travel at speeds of 25 miles an hour or less on the road. Any other use is illegal. Examples of illegal uses include marking stationary objects such as mailboxes, driveways, gates or using the sign on vehicles moving faster than 25 miles per hour like trucks or vans.

Slow down for slow moving vehicles; remember to drive with reason, it’s the farming season!

*material comprised from the New York Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee Brochure, Sharing the Road with Slow-Moving Vehicles, New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health, and the New York Farm Bureau.