The beginning of harvest season is underway, which is slightly ahead of a normal year, and with that comes increased farm equipment on the roadways.

Greene County Sheriff Jack Williams says when motorists are following the slow-moving farm implements to wait until it is safe and legal to pass those vehicles. He advises to not pass a farm implement if you see a field driveway ahead because the farm equipment could turn suddenly to enter those areas. He also reminds motorists to slow down when encountering farm implements on gravel roads. Williams has this suggestion when traveling on gravel roads with farm vehicles.

“If you see an implement coming towards you and you come up to a field drive, you’re better off just to turn into that field drive to let them go by. Because most of the equipment is too wide now for a vehicle to pass safely and without causing the tractor to get too close to the shoulder of the road where it may give out and then we have a bigger accident.”

Williams recommends not to pass farm equipment on bridges or hilltops because of the reduced width of the roadway and the blind road ahead to oncoming traffic.