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STEPHEN JEFFERY stephen.jeffery@eap.on.ca OFA URGES DRIVERS TO BE CAREFUL DURING HARVEST SEASON to agricultural operations. “Statistically, the average person is generations removed from the farm,” he said. “Therefore, it is not com- mon for the majority of motorists to have the knowledge or awareness of how to interact safely when sharing the road with heavy, large agricultural equipment.”
Farmers and other motorists across the region have been reminded to stay safe and be patient on the roads during harvest season. As slower, larger farm vehicles moved between paddocks to collect the final har- vests of the season, several areas across Prescott-Russell have set up initiatives and issued reminders about best practices for both farmers and drivers. The Ontario Federa- tion of Agriculture (OFA) asked farmers to put safety first on the roadways and be aware of impatient drivers who may attempt to pass them at unexpected times. The federation asked that farmers re- mained on the paved portions of roads, rather than shoulders. Slow-moving vehicle signs must be visible on all road-travelling machinery, while lights should be kept on around the clock to ensure visibility was high. “Operating your equipment is a large responsibility that should not be taken lightly,” OFA director Rejean Pommainville said in a statement. “As a community that cares for each other’s well-being, farmers must be proactive by strictly following road safety rules to accomplish the goal of getting crops off and ensuring everyone returns home safely.” Pommainville said farmers operating heavy machinery on roads should consider the lack of exposure many motorists had
Those other motorists, however, were also reminded that understanding and safety obligations were mutual during harvest sea- son. In a statement, Champlain Township asked drivers to leave enough space for farm vehicles to back up or re-enter fields, pass with caution, and pay attention to flashing lights and turn signals. “Be patient; remember that most farmers are only on the roadways for a short period of time between fields or farms,” the state- ment said. “Don’t assume the farmer can see you. Even though the farm equipment may have mirrors or other safety devices, however, your vehicle is significantly smaller than the farm equipment and you may not be visible to the equipment operator.” Debris, including mud and other hazards, were possible on the roads during the sea- son. Russell Federation of Agriculture (RFA) launched a pilot “Mud on the Road” program with Russell Township this year to prevent accidents from those debris. The project provided two signs to be positioned before and after a field where farm equipment was working that warned of mud on the road and to proceed with caution. Farmers signed a rental agreement
Des initiatives de sécurité routière en lien avec l’exploitation agricole ont été mises en place dans toute la région. — photo fournie
the road,” the association said. “This way, motorists are warned that there may be mud on the road and that they should proceed with caution. It is still the responsibility of the farmer to clean the road per the municipal- ity’s bylaw.”
and paid a deposit for the signs, which was returned once the signs were given back. The RFA said the project had been set up after a crash in the township last year. “A young woman had a car accident in which a contributing factor may have been mud on
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