New York Farm Bureau (NYFB) has launched its annual urgent safety campaign as spring farmers flood roads with large equipment, warning drivers across the U.S. to share the road and slow down immediately. This campaign comes as a new spotlight on disturbing farm vehicle crash statistics reveals dangers that demand instant attention.
A 2019 study by the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) found crashes involving farm vehicles are five times more likely to be fatal than other crashes. More than 80% of these incidents involve collisions with passenger cars, often due to motorists attempting risky passes on slow-moving tractors and equipment.
Among those directly impacted is Joe Tyler, a farm worker from El-Vi Farms in Wayne County, who was seriously injured in 2019 when a dump truck struck the tractor he was driving. Tyler shares a heart-wrenching warning urging patience behind farm machinery:
“The extra 30 seconds you want to gain to pass us could cost a life or hours of your time if there is an accident. It was traumatic for me and my family. Please be respectful and patient.”
NYFB President David Fisher emphasized the immediate need for vigilance as spring planting activates heavy farm traffic:
“Farmers are planting their fields now with more tractors on the road. I urge drivers to be patient, pay attention, approach farm vehicles slowly, and only pass when it’s safe. A little patience can save a life.”
High Risk Period for Farm Vehicle Collisions
Spring marks a high-risk time as farmers roll out large machinery on rural roads, sometimes going under 25 mph. In regions like the Finger Lakes, drivers should also be alert for Amish and Mennonite horse-drawn buggies sharing the roadway.
NYFB produced two powerful public service announcement videos to raise awareness. One features a reenacted crash produced with Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck, and the other tells Tyler’s firsthand story of injury and recovery. Both serve as urgent reminders that careless driving around farm equipment has deadly consequences and can forever alter families’ lives.
Safety Tips for Drivers and Farmers RIGHT NOW
Drivers are urged to:
- Slow down and increase following distance when approaching a Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) emblem, a bright orange triangle on farm equipment traveling under 25 mph.
- Never pass where visibility is limited or in no-passing zones.
- Watch for wide turns; tractors may swing opposite to the intended direction before turning.
- Keep eyes on the road and avoid distractions; at 60 mph a vehicle covers 88 feet per second.
Farmers must immediately:
- Ensure slow-moving vehicles display the SMV emblem under 25 mph and correct speed identification symbols (SIS) when traveling 25-40 mph.
- Use flashing amber lights front and rear at all times for increased visibility.
- Stay fully in lane and avoid soft shoulders that risk tractor rollovers.
- Remain alert to vehicles behind, especially when making turns.
With spring planting underway, this campaign’s urgency can’t be overstated for drivers throughout Kentucky and across the United States where rural roads intersect with agricultural work.
The NYFB’s Share the Road campaign is a crucial call to action — reckless passing or impatience could mean the difference between life and death on busy farm roadways today.
Watch the official PSAs here: bit.ly/SharetheRoad25 and bit.ly/SharetheRoad25-2.
Stay alert and share the road — your patience saves lives.
