As spring planting ramps up across New York, drivers are being warned to expect more slow-moving farm equipment on local roads—and to adjust accordingly.
The New York Farm Bureau launched its annual road safety campaign this week, urging motorists to “share the road” and use extra caution during one of the busiest times of year for farmers.
The message comes with a stark reality: crashes involving farm vehicles are significantly more dangerous than typical traffic incidents. A study by the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health found such crashes are five times more likely to be fatal than non-agricultural collisions.
Officials say the risk often stems from impatience. More than 80% of farm-related crashes involve another vehicle, frequently when drivers attempt to pass slow-moving equipment on open stretches of road without fully accounting for turning movements or limited visibility.
“This is the time of year when farmers are planting their fields, so there are more tractors and large equipment on the road,” said New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher. “I urge drivers to be patient and follow the rules of the road.”
The campaign includes public service announcements highlighting the risks, including a reenacted crash involving local law enforcement and a firsthand account from a Wayne County farm worker seriously injured in a collision while operating a tractor.
Joe Tyler, who was struck while making a left turn, said the consequences of a rushed decision can be severe.
“The extra seconds you want to gain to pass us could cost a life,” Tyler said. “We all have families to go home to.”
Safety officials are emphasizing several key reminders for drivers: slow down when approaching equipment marked with the orange slow-moving vehicle emblem, avoid passing in no-passing zones or with limited visibility, and stay alert for wide turns into fields or driveways.
Farmers are also being reminded to properly mark and light their equipment, stay fully within travel lanes, and remain aware of traffic behind them—especially when making turns.
With rural roads across the Finger Lakes expected to see an uptick in agricultural traffic in the coming weeks, the campaign’s message is straightforward: patience behind the wheel can prevent deadly outcomes.
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