As days shorten and harvest hits full speed, October presents motorists with additional obstacles.
Seward County Sheriff's Deputy Mark McFarland said fall comes with hazards not normally seen during the year, mainly through harvest.
With the presence of heavy, slow moving machinery on roadways, safety starts with a simple enough word of advice.
“Being patient is the number one key to it,” he said. “If you're patient and take time, it reduces the chance of an accident.”
To safely navigate farm machinery on the road, McFarland said to leave distance behind a vehicle, pass carefully and lawfully, and be cautious of turns.
“If you're going to pass, do it only when it's safe to do so,” he said. “A lot of those large tractors and combines are wide enough that it hinders (your) view of oncoming traffic. If you're in a no passing zone, don't pass, don't pass on a hill and don't pass within 100 feet of an intersection.”
McFarland said distractions should also be nonexistent for drivers this time of year, as sudden stops and slowdowns may be necessary.
“We always tell people to think of a slow moving vehicle sign as a warning sign to adjust speed and to slow down,” he said. 'When you're not focused on the road, you increase your chances of a collision, especially coming up on a vehicle. Always assume a vehicle is coming even when one isn't immediately visible.”
While most safety precautions fall on regular motorists, McFarland said producers must play a role in safety as well. They are required to have a slow moving vehicle sign affixed to the rear of the vehicle, as well as proper lighting and signals.
“When going on our highways, be cautious of your surroundings and please use your flashers and rotating lights and activate those when going on to roadways,” he said.
Gravel roadways are especially dangerous this time of year, McFarland said, given the dust from passing cars and from fields in which farmers are working.
“When people are out harvesting with their large equipment and all the dust, it makes it very difficult to see,” he said. “We encourage people to slow down as if it was fog or snow conditions.”
The work in fields, as well as the rut and looming hunting season, means an increased presence of deer near or on roadways. McFarland said to keep an eye near creek bottoms, where wildlife frequent, and to leave time for travel in the morning and at night, when activity is at its highest.
“Allow plenty of time to slow down,” he said. “Reduced speed going into those areas helps a bunch and then you're able to see the threat earlier.”
Most activity occurs at dawn and dusk, but McFarland said deer can appear suddenly if they are disturbed by field work.
“We want to emphasize caution of your surroundings and not be surprised if animal movement happens during the day,” he said. “If there's a combine, they're kicking out deer that have been bedding in th fields, so it's possible for deer to run out in the roadways.”
No matter the hazard, McFarland said most situations can be avoided by caution and vigilance. Taking simple steps can prevent major catastrophes.
“If anyone has any questions regarding this time of year, contact us,” he said. “We at the sheriff's office want to ensure everyone has a safe and successful harvest this year.”
