Driving a car is one thing – driving a tractor is another. Especially since if you’re driving a tractor on a road that isn’t part of your farm, you’re probably doing that to pull things from one place to another that a farm truck couldn’t handle. On the other side of things, perhaps you’re an ordinary motorist when a tractor shows up. In either case, at MidSouth Auctions & Appraisals we’ve compiled some safety tips for both sides of the story.

Tips For Farmers

On the farming side of things, remember to keep your farm equipment as visible as you can while driving – accidents are what everyone doesn’t want, after all. You should have lights and flashers on your equipment to make it clear where it is and where you might be going. Remember to keep the proper emblems, such as those for slow-moving vehicles, on the right things at the right times. We recommend that you avoid traveling before dawn or after dusk if you can manage it, but if you have to do that, apply reflective tape to your vehicles and equipment. Also make sure that your headlights work properly.
Most farming vehicles are considerably taller than a typical car – try to avoid low-hanging obstacles, for instance a low bridge. Also check the load weight and balance for your towed equipment. If something’s off, that will only make it that much less safe.

Tips For Motorists

On the ordinary-motorist side of things, keep in mind that farming vehicles will need to make wider turns than typical vehicles; they may even need to travel into both lanes at once to properly manage a turn, especially if they’re pulling heavy equipment with them.
Whatever you do, don’t pull ahead of a farm vehicle and then suddenly slow down. If it’s towing something heavy behind it, a quick stop may be rendered impossible, resulting in a crash – which nobody wants.