Agricultural vehicle road safety during harvest time

Ensuring safe operation of agricultural vehicles on the road is a critical responsibility for farmers and agricultural contractors. It’s imperative that they avoid rushing the job, as not taking enough time and care can result in disastrous consequences. The repercussions of serious accidents extend beyond physical harm, affecting the quality of life, mental health, and financial wellbeing of those affected, and their families.

Key factors 

Agricultural-vehicle accidents are often the result of several key factors:

• Excessive speed: Driving too fast for conditions.
• Inexperienced operators: Lack of adequate training and experience.
• Distraction and fatigue: Reduced attention and alertness.
• Poor visibility and lighting: Inadequate visibility and insufficient vehicle lighting.
• Overloading: Trailers carrying excessive or oversized loads.
• Mechanical issues: Poor vehicle condition and maintenance.

Drive safely on the road

You must ensure that vehicles are operated at a safe speed, are well lit up, and that they are maintained in a roadworthy condition. It’s essential that all lights, mirrors, indicators and wipers are fully functioning, clean and visible.
There must be safe access and egress from all farmyards and fields to avoid road traffic accidents. In addition, farmers and contractors must be careful not to drag muck onto the public road as this may cause vehicles to skid, lose control or overturn. Operators must be competent, free from distractions, and well-rested. Using hand-held mobile phones while driving is illegal and dangerous as it significantly increases the risk of accidents.

Fatigue – a major factor 

Fatigue is more than feeling tired. It is a decline in mental and/or physical performance generally due to insufficient sleep. It can be caused by sleep loss, extended wakefulness, high workload, or disruption of your internal body clock. Fatigue reduces your ability to carry out your work safely and effectively. Noticing the signs and symptoms of fatigue in yourself is an important first step to enable you to do something about it. You may notice fatigue because you make more mistakes, make poor judgements, and take greater risks. To help reduce fatigue it is important that you manage your workload, get adequate sleep, stay hydrated, and take regular breaks.

Vigilance 

Operators of large tractors, trailers, and machinery must exercise extra caution, especially on narrow country roads. We would also encourage pedestrians and cyclists to wear high-visibility vests, use the correct side of the road, travel in single file, and stay alert for approaching vehicles.

Vehicle maintenance

Regular maintenance of agricultural vehicles and implements is crucial for safety. Key areas to check include:

• Lights and indicators: Ensure all lights and indicators are functioning properly.
• Brakes and tyres: Check for effective braking systems and well-maintained tyres.
• Windows, mirrors, and wipers: Keep them clean for maximum visibility and maintain the wipers in good working order.
• Steering and hydraulics: Regularly inspect and maintain these systems.

Importance of proper lighting

Using agricultural vehicles with inadequate lighting poses significant safety risks. Rear-end collisions often occur due to misjudging speed differences, and side-impact collisions can happen during wide turns. Ensure vehicles are equipped with full lighting systems, including side lamps, headlamps, rear lamps, stop lamps, direction indicators, amber beacons, and number-plate lighting.

Securing loads

Overloading trailers can lead to instability and inadequate braking distances. Regulations specify maximum weight loads, vehicle lengths, and widths for public roads. Farmers and contractors should familiarise themselves with these standards; guidance is available on the Road Safety Authority website. Over-sized loads, particularly on narrow, winding roads, must be driven with extra caution. A warning vehicle should precede large machinery like combines to alert oncoming traffic. All loads must be well secured to prevent materials from falling or spilling onto the road.

Use of signage

Strategically placed warning signs can significantly reduce accident risks. During harvest time, place signs along roadways and at farm/field entrances, especially concealed ones, to alert passing traffic about large machinery using the roadway.

Road clean-up

The Roads Act 1993 mandates keeping public roads clear of hazardous materials. Agricultural machinery operators must try to maintain roads in a clean manner, washing down vehicle tyres when necessary to prevent mud and stones from being carried onto public roads. Remember, always drive at a safe speed and be considerate of other road users. Proper vehicle maintenance, appropriate lighting, secure loads, and vigilance can prevent many accidents. By following these guidelines, farmers and agricultural contractors can significantly improve road safety for everyone.