The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has used National Farm Safety Week to urge all road users to give agricultural vehicles extra space on the road ahead of this year’s planting and harvest season.
National Farm Safety Week which runs from 18 to 24 July, is dedicated to raising awareness of farm safety issues in rural communities across Australia and the NHVR is keen to raise awareness about the dangers of large farm vehicles on the road in the coming months.
NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the recent increase in Australians moving to regional communities has meant more traffic for agricultural vehicle drivers to safely navigate during the up-coming harvest.
“We know up to four out of five crashes involving a heavy vehicle are caused by light vehicle drivers, so it’s important motorists understand how to safely share the road with heavy vehicles,” Mr Petroccitto said.
“Tractors, grain harvesters and air seeders all have limited turning ability, visibility of other vehicles, speed range and space on our roads.
“If you’re travelling near an agricultural vehicle, please be patient, reduce your speed, maintain a safe following distance of two seconds or more, and only overtake if it is safe to do so.
“If an oversized ag vehicle is approaching you from the opposite direction, you may need to pull over safely to let them pass.
“It’s these simple tips that will help reduce risk for all road users and ensure everyone arrives safely at their destination – whether it’s to the silo, stockyard or home.”
For more information about sharing the road safely with heavy vehicles, visit www.weneedspace.com.au
