The Butler County Farm Bureau is recognizing Rural Roads Safety Week April 13-19 by encouraging county motorists to travel safely.

You may have noticed that farmers are returning to the fields. Tractors, farm trucks, wagons and other large equipment are once again traveling on Pennsylvania roads.

To the distracted or impatient motorist, such vehicles can pose a threat when safe driving practices are not observed. For example, if a car is traveling 55 mph and a tractor is moving 15 mph, it only takes five seconds to close a gap the length of a football field between car and tractor.

Don’t forget to reduce your speed when driving on roads where you might encounter large farm machinery. Also make sure to slow down when you see the Slow-Moving Vehicle emblem, which is an orange triangle with a red border, attached to farm vehicles.

To accommodate motorists, drivers of slow-moving farm vehicles often pull onto the road’s shoulder to give other motorists a better view of road conditions and enough room to pass. Keep in mind that if the shoulder is soft, wet or steep, the farmer cannot move aside, because it could cause the equipment to roll over. If you feel you must pass, do so with caution.

On behalf of the Butler County Farm Bureau, I encourage all residents to be aware of farm vehicles and equipment during their travels. By working together, we can make the trip safe for motorists and farmers.

James Thiele,

Butler County Farm Bureau president