Cawshus the Crow on... Rural Roads and Safe Roads
Did you know there are 40% more fatal crashes in rural areas than in urban areas? Why?
- Seat belt use is lower in rural areas. Often there is a perception of less risk when driving in the country.
- Sharing the road with large slow-moving farm machinery can be dangerous. Drivers of cars and pickups may not see farm machinery or be able to stop in time to avoid a collision.
- You without drivers' licenses may be operating farm equipment on rural roadways.
- Pickups are a common form of transportation on rural roadways and riding in the back of a pickup is always dangerous.
- Often treacherous driving conditions occur on rural roadways due to:
- gravel and slippery surfaces
- soft shoulders
- no center line markings
- lack of stop signs
- obstructed views caused by tall crops and roadway dust
- narrow road surfaces
 As a farm machinery operator:
- Learn how to safely operate farm machinery. Take a tractor safety class or ask your parents for instruction.
- Obey all traffic laws, traffic signals, and signs. Slow down on curves and look before you turn.
- Use tractors equipped with roll over protective structures (ROPS) and wear your seat belt.
- Be prepared to yield the right-of-way to other vehicles.
- There is no place for extra riders on most farm equipment. Keep extra riders off equipment unless there is a seat and seat belt for them.
As a driver of a vehicle sharing the rural roadways with farm machinery operators:
- Learn how to drive safely in all vehicles. Take a driver education class and practice driving with your parents.
 Obey all traffic laws, traffic signals, and signs. Hills and curves can be especially dangerous on rural roads, where you may not be able to see the back of a slow-moving vehicle.
- Buckle up. You may be at even greater risk on rural roads. Always use your seat belt.
- Passengers in pickups and trucks should use seat belts and not ride in the cargo area.
- Be alert to farm machinery sharing rural roads, giving them enough room to safely operate.
Note to Parents:
Adolescents often are anxious to begin driving. You've got their attention so use this opportunity to emphasize the importance of safe operation of both farm machinery and other vehicles that share the rural roadways.
Youth can be a great help when extra hands are needed to operate and transport farm machinery. Make sure that young and novice operators have the knowledge, size, skills, and experience to operate vehicles safely. Don't let an inexperience operator and those sharing the rural roadways become victims of a tragedy.
When assigning youth to duties involving driving on rural roadways consider the following guidelines.
- Assign youth to machinery that is in good working condition, properly marked, and lighted for visibility.
- Instruction on proper operation of farm machinery is necessary. Encourage them to take certification training.
- Assign youth to tractors equipped with a ROPS and instruct them to wear seat belts.
- Teach them the skills of driving on rural roadways safely. Allow them to practice and give constructive advice.
You can make a big difference -
- Role model safe behavior for youth by driving safely, obeying all traffic laws, and manufacturer's recommendations for road transport safety.
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