Road Safety During Grape Harvest
-by Andrew Holden

September is Farm Safety Awareness Month as well as the beginning of grape harvest in the area. The Lake Erie Regional Grape Program wants to remind you to be extra cautious during this time so that everyone can make it to their destination safely.

Grape harvest season is upon us, and it is critical that everyone is aware of and takes caution to tractors, semi-trucks, and harvesters on the roads. During the next 2 months there will be an uptick in farm activity as grape growers harvest their crops and deliver them to market. Residents should expect delays, slow moving tractors, and more activity on local roads. All drivers on the road need to be alert and pay attention!

All farm machinery that travel less than 40 miles per hour must have a Slow-Moving Vehicle Emblem displayed on the back. This can be identified as a bright orange triangle. These vehicles are not required to move over or ride on the side of the road.

What are motorists’ responsibilities when they encounter a slow-moving vehicle?
•    Slow down immediately when you see a vehicle or equipment with a SMV emblem in the road
•    Increase following distance to create a safety cushion
•    Be alert and watch for turns into fields
•    Drive courteously
•    Pass with care only when it is safe and legal to do so
•    Remember SMV operators may have poor visibility due to loads and equipment in tow
•    Be aware that equipment in tow may sway on the road
For more up to date information on slow-moving vehicles and proper responses when encountering them you can visit the following websites: https://trafficsafety.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2019/07/SharingTheRoadWithSlowMovingVehiclesBrochure_June2019.pdf or https://trafficsafety.ny.gov/resources?f%5B0%5D=filter_term%3A181
Let’s be safe on the roads this harvest season, slow down, roll down the windows to smell the sweet scent of ripe grapes, and make it safely to our destination.