Greensburg, PA – Springtime is here, and our local farmers will be planting crops and moving tractors and farm equipment between their fields. In an effort to reduce the risk of crashes and improve highway safety, troopers offer these tips for motorists who encounter tractors and farm equipment in their travels:

• Be respectful and patient when encountering tractors and farm equipment.

• Wait for a safe, legal opportunity to pass with sufficient sight distance of the road ahead.

• Avoid passing farm vehicles on curves or hills with insufficient sight distance.

• Follow at a safe distance and watch for sudden stops or wide turns.

• Remember that if you can’t see the equipment operator in their rearview mirror, they may not see you.

We would also like to remind motorists who encounter horse-drawn buggies to be extra attentive, adjust your vehicle’s speed and following distance accordingly and always wait for a safe, legal opportunity to pass. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), “vehicles designed to travel 25 mph or less and horse-drawn vehicles are required by law to display a fluorescent orange triangle surrounded by red bands.” The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau offers additional tips on rural road safety in a brochure available on the PennDOT website.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Troopers Steve Limani, 724-832-3288, and Cliff Greenfield, 724-357- 1998, Twitter: @PSPTroopAPIO