Farmers and motorists are urged to exercise caution as farm equipment
is transported on Kentucky roads during the planting season. If you’re driving on rural Kentucky roads this time of year - be on the lookout for slow-moving farm vehicles. Farmers are encouraged to watch out for drivers who may top a hill or round a curve and not expect to see a farm vehicle on the road.

Last year, there were 181 collisions involving farm tractors and/or farm equipment on Kentucky roads, of which 36 collisions resulted in one fatality and 55 injuries, according to the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety. Of the 181 collisions, 144 involved property damage.

It’s legal to drive farm machinery on public roads; sometimes it’s the only way farmers can get from field to field. The combination of slow-moving farm equipment, which may not have brake lights or turn signals, and faster motor vehicles reduces reaction time significantly. Driver distraction, such as talking on a cell phone, can make stopping without a crash almost impossible.

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