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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Tractors on the road???

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Dobbin Nobbin

07-17-2007 02:40:48




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Many years ago, I was driving a tractor with a rear mounted cultivator, down a paved 2 lane highway, I was at a point where the road had very little shoulder and had to drive mostly on the pavement. It was very close to dark as a car came up from the rear, extremely fast. Luckily a driveway was handy and I managed to pull into it just as the car passed at high speed. I believe people would have died had that driveway not been handy. I say this because normaly I tend to drive a tractor as much off the road as I can get because I believe very seriously in driving defensively and always keep an eye open for others. Many have said I am wrong and I have a right to use the highway as much as anyone else and I should drive a tractor on the highway the same way I would drive a car. What say you?

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kendak

07-18-2007 12:44:35




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to Dobbin Nobbin, 07-17-2007 02:40:48  
I farmed for many years & all I say is that you better have some real GOOD insurance...someone hits you & gets hurt or dies & you'r toast...Kent



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Bret4207

07-18-2007 06:12:15




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to Dobbin Nobbin, 07-17-2007 02:40:48  
It depends on your State law as far as the legality of driving a tractor on the road. In NYS a tractor can be on the road as long as it's under 17 feet wide (before oversize permits are required), has an SMV sign, lights if it's dark, travels under 25mph. There's a little more but that most of it.

I really think in todays environment flashing lights on the rops or a pole would be a good idea if you travel the road much. Better safe than sorry.

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bobt

07-17-2007 18:26:09




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to Dobbin Nobbin, 07-17-2007 02:40:48  
I think your doing the rite thing,im in western iowa. Most guys will drive as much as they can on the shoulder, it's a lot safer that way. Youre doing the rite think. Safty first!



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Brad Wright of MO

07-17-2007 13:55:49




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to Dobbin Nobbin, 07-17-2007 02:40:48  
and another thing i think we should take a few minutes out of our busy busy lives and safely follow the people that supply our food which correct me if i am wrong but i do believe we have to have that to live. And personally i think we should pay much more respect to the american farmer than we do, but i guess thats hard to understand for someone who has never been in this situation.



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rrlund

07-17-2007 13:34:00




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to Dobbin Nobbin, 07-17-2007 02:40:48  
I don't know where you are,but here,it's illegal to drive on the shoulder. I do anyway on 2 lane state highways,but not on paved county roads. If you get off half to two thirds of the way they will pass you into uncomming traffic without even slowing down and it's a very dangeous situation. As an aside,if you have an SMV emblem,traffic coming up behind you is supposed to slow down to your speed,then procede to pass you. If they whiz by,they are breaking the law.

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Blue3992 (N Illinois)

07-17-2007 10:46:04




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to Dobbin Nobbin, 07-17-2007 02:40:48  
This is kind of off the topic, but:

When I was in Driver's Ed many years ago, we had one day where a local Harley rider came in and talked to the class. Told us what riding a motorcycle was like, told us how to get our motorcycle license, but most importantly, told us the chalenges that he has to face being a motorcycle rider on a highway filled with cars. Things like: Cars never see us, cars pull out in front of us, etc.

That was about 15 years ago, and his lessons still stick with me today, and I always keep an eye out on the road for bikes.

Why doesn't Driver's Ed classes have farmers come in and talk bout the challenges of being on the road with a tractor, and having to deal with all the cars? It seems like it would help, especially in farm country. If drivers had an idea of what farmers have to put up with, they'd be better able to handle situations when they meet on the road.

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RayP(MI)

07-17-2007 19:26:00




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to Blue3992 (N Illinois), 07-17-2007 10:46:04  
The most popular DE text has a chapter about driving on country roads, but doesn't do justice to sharing the road with slow moving vehicles, tractors. I suspect that that falls to individual teachers. If the students are not country kids, I they probably don't leave DE with much of a perspective on farm traffic. Curriculum is pretty much state specified, and they don't provide enough time to cover much thoroughly. I don't know many farmers, (myself excepted,) who would spare the time. In Michigan very few public schools offer DE. Most have abandoned it due to burdensome state requirements, (paperwork, reports, etc.), and the substantial costs involved, which the state doesn't begin to cover. Interestingly enough, if you look at the private schools, almost all their expenses are higher than a public school would face. Example fuel taxes, rent, heat, light, air conditioning, insurance, custodial, vehicle costs. Many of these are no cost or less cost for public schools. Example, a school classroom used after school doesn't cost much besides a couple hours of lights, cars are bought on bid, insurance is on the fleet policy, fuel is free of tax..... (33 years as a DE teacher!)

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Mike M

07-17-2007 11:23:29




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to Blue3992 (N Illinois), 07-17-2007 10:46:04  
No more drivers ed classes, at least like it used to be in high school.

I read in the car magazines that overseas they make new drivers go through a pretty good driving school training. They made a good point that with all we spend on our kids the best investment may be to spend the money and send your kids to one of these special driving schools as they have them here it just isn't mandatory.

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Doug in IL

07-17-2007 08:32:36




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to Dobbin Nobbin, 07-17-2007 02:40:48  
Well, you don't only have the right to be on the highway, you are legally obligated to be there. The liability is strictly yours if you are rearended on the shoulder, or if you are in the process of pulling on or off the shoulder. You must have "lane position" to be protected legally. If you are rearended, in this state anyway, the person who hit you is always liable. This applys to a slow moving car, that has just pulled onto the highway, as well as slow moving farm equipment. If the vehicle that is rearended is squarely on the road, not still in the process of turning, it is considered to have "lane position". Does that make things "safe or "right"? No, not really. But that is the law. Been there, done that!

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dds-inc

07-17-2007 08:29:51




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to Dobbin Nobbin, 07-17-2007 02:40:48  
Did you have lights on the tractor at this time of the day?



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Mike M

07-17-2007 07:40:46




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to Dobbin Nobbin, 07-17-2007 02:40:48  
This is exactly why the JCB Fastrac tractor is so popular. They go 40-50 MPH so you can keep up with the flow (or ahead of the foggies) they also equip. silage and honey wagons with brakes so they can get stopped.

Ohio is the first state to address this and is right now in the process makeing some special laws for them.



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Jiles

07-17-2007 07:28:07




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to Dobbin Nobbin, 07-17-2007 02:40:48  
If I wanted to use the paved road regularly, I would just buy me a license plate for my vehicle. That way you have paid taxes for use of the road. Of course you can't do that and that is the answer to your question. Do some people get mad at ATV 4 wheelers on the road? They have as much right to use the road as a tractor. I checked with my insurance agent and he stated that if you cause an accedent, YOU are responsible. Better have good insurance.

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Eric SEI

07-17-2007 18:46:30




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to Jiles, 07-17-2007 07:28:07  
In Indiana ATVs are only allowed on county roads if the county council passes an ordinance to allow it, and even then they do not have to allow it everywhere. In our county it is allowed only in the western part where it is still mostly farmland, not that the Cincinnatians give a damn what isn't allowed.



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dhermesc

07-17-2007 08:34:53




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to Jiles, 07-17-2007 07:28:07  
Depends on your state.

In Kansas as long as you have the slow moving vehicle sign on your tractor during the day time and lights at night you have as much right to the road as any tagged vehicle (with the exception of roads with minimum speeds).

4 wheelers are specifically banned from road use unless they are tagged and have working brake and tailights.



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Walt Davies

07-17-2007 07:21:18




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to Dobbin Nobbin, 07-17-2007 02:40:48  
Come to Oregon if you can follow all the laws here you are better than most.
1. At a 4 way stop the car to the right has the right-of-way regardless of who got there first. 2. Pedestrians have the right-of-way if they are on the same side of the road as you are. 3. Not all stop signs mean stop (some have a sign below them that says "Right turn not permitted without stopping") The guy at the other stop sign doesn't know that because he doesn't have a sign. 4. We have no way to drive off the side of the road because there isn't anything there to drive on and few places to pull off and let the traffic pass. 5. And all these silly rules are word of mouth because they are not required to post any change in the law from city to city. And the state doesn't let you know if the law changes. Its driver beware out here. Beaverton has a law that requires the driver to have both hands on the wheel at all times. (How does one shift his car or truck)
And worst of all is the stoplight traps. all radar-camera stoplight are one full half second less of yellow light so its imposable to stop on time.


Walt

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Matt in TN

07-17-2007 06:55:50




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to Dobbin Nobbin, 07-17-2007 02:40:48  
I say there is no point in being right *and* dead.



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John (C-IL)

07-17-2007 04:39:46




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to Dobbin Nobbin, 07-17-2007 02:40:48  
We've hashed and rehashed this question on this board every month or two so further discussion gets to be redundant.

You have a right to the road just like any other vehicle.

There are rules/laws to follow. Sometimes common sense even overrules the laws.

You can be right, DEAD RIGHT!



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comfortking

07-17-2007 04:22:58




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to Dobbin Nobbin, 07-17-2007 02:40:48  
The thing about right of is you never know who really has it. Question: In Illinois if a police officer and fire truck are responding to a call amd a mail carrier come to an intersection at the same time, who has the right of way? Also the road and bridge laws state the primary reason for our road system is the movement of ag products. Our interstate highway system was not built for big rigs or fast moving four wheelers but for the military to use. Tractors most assuredly have the right ot be on the road, however they can not be in the wrong lane of traffic with their equipment. It is not always the large equipment that causes the problem. When I still farmed we were on eight 30's and many times we moved that 20 foot planter and did not truck it which was not smart.

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MarkB_MI

07-17-2007 03:31:27




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to Dobbin Nobbin, 07-17-2007 02:40:48  
Forget about right-of-way. By driving a tractor with a wide implement on a highway late in the day, you put yourself and others at risk. Knowing you had the right-of-way isn't going to be of much consolation if a car plows into you, killing its occupants.



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souNdguy

07-17-2007 06:02:55




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to MarkB_MI, 07-17-2007 03:31:27  
With that logic.. why don't we just do away with all the laws.. or should we only do away with the ones you don't like?!?!

Read your states rulebook.

If it is anything like Florida, it will tell you that you are suposed to occupy your lane.. and not try to drive mostly onthe shoulder.. etc..

The limits of what type of raod an ag vehicle can drive on, and how many miles per year they can be driven are spelled out.

If the tractor and implement are correctly marked and lit as required by law.. and a car slams into them and the occupant / driver are killed.. that is about the same as them slamming into the back of your automobile.. IE.. they either made an error, or otherwise were not paying attnetion / driving too fast.. etc.. and thus had the accident..

Soundguy

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MSM

07-17-2007 03:10:13




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to Dobbin Nobbin, 07-17-2007 02:40:48  
If you run the roads a SMV emblem at minimum is required by law in most states,plus the more blinking lights and reflectors or reflective tape the better,especially on a wide implement.Had you been hit without these,guess whose fault it would be?



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jjamna

07-17-2007 02:57:53




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to Dobbin Nobbin, 07-17-2007 02:40:48  
How much road tax is paid with todays #2 diesel?
Yes tractors should be allowed on the road but the should not think that they own the road. We have a few ( bigtime farmers) around here who think they own the road. Just one example- had to follow two combines right at 15 miles before I got a chance to get around. I was 3 cars behind them, went over a hill and I quit counting at 35 cars in my mirror. They would not pull over and let anyone by, the bad part is we met a state trooper and he did nothing. I thought it was a law if you are a slow moving vehicle and you have more than three vehicles behind you you must pullover. I have 6 tractors myself and I do drive them on the road but I make every effort I can to let even one car behind me go by.

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onefarmer

07-17-2007 18:02:13




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to jjamna, 07-17-2007 02:57:53  
Used to be about the only ones that used the roads were farmers. Then the city folk decided to join us farmers out in the country and started using the roads, complaining about the smell, dust, weed seed blowing on their perfect lawn, barking dogs. Telling us how to do our business turning us in if a truck sat in one place for more than a month. and on and on.

Sorry for the rant but if they don't like it out with the farmers then "City Slickers Go Home!!"

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Brad Wright of MO

07-17-2007 13:51:24




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to jjamna, 07-17-2007 02:57:53  
well maby im just the outsider here but i cant exactly just pull over anywhere with a combine and since there big time farmers i assume there not running little old gleaners so it prolly isnt that there trying to be a hassle they just cant scoot right over everytime someone needs to get by.



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Scotmac

07-17-2007 10:39:07




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to jjamna, 07-17-2007 02:57:53  
Actually, we do own the road. Any ground we have bought or sold, has always been to the center of the road...except for four laner's. I used to hug the shoulder as much as possible. But after a few near hits from guys who always try to squeeze through if they have a half a lane, I started making them wait until I could get clear off, or the oncoming lane was clear.



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Doug in IL

07-17-2007 08:38:43




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to jjamna, 07-17-2007 02:57:53  
Those big time farmers probably spend a little time with their attorneys over the course of each year. They probably know the law as it pertains to "lane position" that I refered to in my comments above.



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georgeky

07-17-2007 07:15:16




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to jjamna, 07-17-2007 02:57:53  
If you pulled over for every car that came up behind you while moving from one farm to another, you would never get there. When I find a safe place and several cars are behind me I will pull over and let them around, but doing it for every car that comes along? I would never get there. Here Ag equipment does have the right of way. Even horses and wagons do, but I would sure hate to take my chances with those, with the way folks drive now days. Lots of folks in a big hurry to get to Wal-Mart or the liquor store. I try to move my equipment at times of the day to dodge as much traffic as possible.

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Al -VA

07-17-2007 06:39:47




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to jjamna, 07-17-2007 02:57:53  
We always have done that and considered it being a good citizen. Some of these comments amaze me.



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Ken Macfarlane

07-17-2007 05:45:11




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 Re: Tractors on the road??? in reply to jjamna, 07-17-2007 02:57:53  
Piles of flashing lights day or night, thats what I have while on the road. SMV sign sure but where someone if closing at 50 mph on our road they don't see the SMV.



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