Slow Moving Vehicles During Hay Harvest Season

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FROM/DE: Dufferin Detachment OPP                                  DATE: July 15, 2024

SLOW MOVING VEHICLES ARE TAKING OVER DUFFERIN COUNTY AS HAY HARVEST IS HERE

(DUFFERIN COUNTY) - The Dufferin Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) would like to take the opportunity to remind motorists that hay harvest season is upon us, and agricultural equipment is on the move. We want to remind drivers to share the road, and drive with extra care and attention around slow moving vehicles and farm vehicles. A little extra patience can go a long way to ensure everyone gets to their destination safely.

Motorists should use caution and reduce speeds when travelling near farm vehicles and equipment. Every year Dufferin OPP responds to incidents involving farm vehicles that are struck by impatient or inattentive drivers. These collisions frequently result in personal injury and/or death and all of these crashes are preventable.

 Farm equipment such as tractors, combines and the trailers/wagons that they tow are exceptionally large and require significant room to safely manoeuvre on the roadway. The work that local farmers do is extremely important to all of us. Public safety is always a focus of the Dufferin OPP, and the following tips are provided to motorists using rural roadways during harvest time.

  • If traveling through areas where crops are currently being harvested, expect to see large agricultural equipment, and drive accordingly.
  • If you see large farm equipment on the roadway, slow down, be patient and pass only when it is safe to do so.
  • Do not tailgate large farm equipment as the operator may not be able to see you.
  • Do not blow your horn at the operator of the farm equipment as they will not be able to hear you due to the noise produced by the equipment.

Please be mindful of farmer's during this hay harvest and give them the necessary room to do their work by sharing our roadways.

The Dufferin OPP appreciates the demanding work that our local farmers do every day, with special attention given at this time of year as they harvest their crops. Please ensure that hay harvest is safe for all of our motoring public.

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