Farmers, PFB and State Agencies Come Together to Remind Motorists to Drive Carefully on Rural Roads

For Immediate Release: April 15, 2025

Contact: David Varner, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau

Phone: 717-731-3541

Farmers, PFB and State Agencies Come Together to Remind Motorists to Drive Carefully on Rural Roads

MILL HALL – Pennsylvania farmers are returning to their fields for spring planting, which means that drivers should be alert for large farm equipment on rural roadways.

Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, and our partners in state government, are encouraging motorists to be cautious as part of Rural Roads Safety Week, April 13-19. Each year, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau partners with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) and the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) to spread the message of staying safe on rural roads during the height of the spring planting season.

“Farmers make the safety of other motorists a top priority when we must move equipment on the roadway and we ask that drivers help keep us safe as well,” said Pennsylvania Farm Bureau President Chris Hoffman. “We don’t want to cause an inconvenience to anyone and will often pull over to allow others to pass when it’s safe to do so. We just ask that drivers remain patient when following farm equipment and keep a safe distance. By slowing down and using caution and commonsense, drivers can avoid costly crashes and save lives.”

“Be extremely cautious on back roads when you’re turning a corner or coming up on an intersection,” said Frank Schneider, PDA Director of the Bureau for Plant Industry. “Some of the equipment that is on the road now takes up the width of the road, especially when we talk about rural and back roads, so be cautious.”

According to preliminary PennDOT data, there were 104 crashes involving farm equipment on Pennsylvania roads in 2024, resulting in three fatalities and 13 suspected serious injuries. In total, there were more than 40,000 crashes on rural Pennsylvania roads last year, resulting in 576 fatalities, further stressing the need for safety on rural roads.

“We share the same concerns as the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Farm Bureau and the Pennsylvania State Police not only for the safety of the farm community, but the safety of all motorists,” said Larry Shifflet, PennDOT Executive Deputy Secretary. “Rural Road Safety Week reminds us that we all need to take a pause and slow down.”

Farm equipment can legally be operated on Pennsylvania roadways, including at night, but farmers are required to follow certain safety guidelines depending on the size of equipment moved. All farm equipment that travels at speeds less than 25 miles per hour is required to have a Slow-Moving Vehicle emblem (an orange triangle with red outline) on the back of their equipment.

If drivers see the Slow-Moving Vehicle emblem, it is a sign to slow down immediately. It takes only five seconds to close a gap the length of a football field if a vehicle is driving 55 miles per hour and a tractor is moving at 15 miles per hour. Drivers should be alert that farm equipment may be turning at an unexpected place, such as into a field, and may be making a wide left turn if it pulls to the right. Always be sure the oncoming lane is clear and visible before passing large equipment and never pass in a no-passing zone or within 100 feet of any intersection, railroad grade crossing, bridge, elevated structure or tunnel.

PFB, along with representatives from PennDOT, Pennsylvania State Police and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture held a demonstration and event promoting Rural Roads Safety Week at Dotterer Dairy in Mill Hall, Clinton County, on Tuesday, April 15. County Farm Bureaus across Pennsylvania also hold local events in their communities promoting safe driving on rural roads.

PFB has resources available to aid in your coverage of Rural Roads Safety Week. Visit www.pfb.com/RRS for tips for drivers and farmers, our Rural Roads Safety Week brochure and video from the live demonstration.

Pennsylvania Farm Bureau is the state’s largest farm organization, representing farms of every size and commodity across Pennsylvania.

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