The following information was recently provided to FSA by a concerned producer.

Everyone needs to be aware that farm equipment is large, slow and legally permitted to travel township and state highways. Most farm equipment is designed to run at speeds of 15 to 25 mph and in most instances is wider than the lane of travel.

Motorists can help ensure their safety by being cautious, courteous and paying special attention to the following safety tips:

• Recognize the slow moving vehicle emblem. This is the triangular orange and red reflective sign on automobiles, farm equipment and animal-drawn vehicles often seen on rural roads. This is a warning to drivers to reduce speed.

• Be patient. The farmer operating the equipment is not intentionally trying to delay your trip and will pull over at the first available safe location. Oftentimes the shoulders of the roads are soft, wet or steep, which could cause the farm vehicle to tip. Slowing down to 20 mph for two miles takes only six minutes, which is equivalent to waiting for two stoplights.

• Don't assume the farmer knows a vehicle is behind the tractor. Remember the equipment is loud, and the farmer probably will not hear a vehicle approach behind him. Even though farmers often check behind them for traffic, most of the time is spent watching in front of them for oncoming traffic and to safely keep the equipment on the road.

• Pass with caution. Don't assume when a farm vehicle pulls off to the right that it is turning right. Wide left turns are necessary because of the size of the equipment. Watch for gates or driveways on the left of the road that the operator might be turning into.

Operators of equipment in turn should keep in mind these tips to help alleviate hazards when taking wide equipment on the road:

• A slow moving vehicle reflector is required by Pennsylvania law to be placed on any machine that travels the road slower than 25 mph. Always point the triangle up, keep it clean to maximize the reflectivity and replace every 2 to 3 years.

• To increase visibility, reflective tape and reflectors could be placed on the edges of tractors and machines.

• Turn on the lights when going onto the road but be sure to turn off rear spotlights. The spotlights can be mistaken for headlights from a distance.

• Avoid rush hour traffic and bad weather. Don't drive before sunrise or after sunset.

• Use pilot cars, one in front and one in back, if going a considerable distance. Hang an orange flag out the window of the pilot vehicles.

• Install mirrors on equipment.

By working together, we can help make rural road travel safe for Pennsylvania's motorists and farmers.

Luke Fritz is executive director of the Butler County Farm Service Agency.