Agriculture Road Safety

Most states allow leeway regarding the use of implements of husbandry on public roadways. For the most part, regulations for size and type of equipment don’t apply to those that operate agricultural equipment on the road. But drivers need to be aware of bridge and road embargos to help prevent serious injury and damage to roadways and equipment.

The increase in size of agricultural equipment makes it almost certain that portions will extend “left of center” when operated on public roads. Courts have generally upheld the right of equipment operators to use public roads, but that doesn’t give immunity from liability should you have an accident when the size of your equipment is in direct violation.

Accidents are more prevalent at certain times of the day. Operating in the morning presents an increased risk as people head off to work and school. Drivers are usually in a hurry and often lack the patience to follow a slow-moving vehicle. The same is true during afternoons and early evenings as schools let out and people are returning home from work.

When operating in the dark, be sure to:

• Turn on lights
• Use reflectors or conspicuity tape
• Display SMV sign
• Use an escort vehicle (if you don’t have the proper lighting on the rear of the equipment)

Don’t forget about the trailer. When pulling trailers, operators often rely on the lights from the power unit as their warning system. This can increase the risk of collision because these lights can become obstructed by the roadway curving or the large loads being pulled, such as large hay bales.

Before getting behind the wheel, all drivers must understand the hazards of driving and the importance of sharing the road with others. Never use inexperienced or untrained drivers. Regulations require drivers to be trained on how to operate the specific equipment they are assigned to use and to how to navigate the equipment in the environment they’re operating in.

Let’s look at the following scenarios to learn more:

Avoiding left-turn collisions

The left-turn collision is one of the most common accidents involving articulating farm vehicles, such as a tractor pulling a tool bar and nurse tank. When attempting to make a left turn, equipment operators commonly pull to the right in order to make a wide left turn. Motorists behind the equipment may view the movement of the equipment to the right as permission to pass.

Accidents may be prevented if equipment operators use equipped turn signals or hand or arm signals when operating older equipment. Before committing to the turn, operators should pay close attention to oncoming traffic and check all mirrors or look over their shoulder to ensure motorists are not trying to pass.

Rural bridges and large farm equipment

Large farm equipment and old bridges don’t mix. Before crossing a rural bridge, make sure your vehicle weight will not damage the bridge or cause it to collapse.

Because rural bridges are often very narrow, allow oncoming traffic to clear the bridge before starting across. This reduces the total weight on the bridge and gives you more space to maneuver.

Tractors, combines and sprayers have high wheels with tires that have large lugs to facilitate traction. If you pull right to cross the bridge with oncoming traffic, your tires can easily come into contact with the guardrail and subsequently cause your equipment to climb the rail or even tip off the bridge.

Managing passing cars on rural roads

When driving a slow-moving vehicle, there will always be other motorists wanting to pass. You should never wave a driver to pass. Ultimately, it’s the passing driver’s responsibility to pass – not yours.

You shouldn’t drive with half of your vehicle on the shoulder either. As the passing vehicle straddles the center line, your equipment may sideswipe it if you have to swerve to avoid an oncoming mail box, road sign or other obstruction.

Always drive with the left side of your vehicle to the centerline, even though the width of your equipment extends onto the shoulder. If a vehicle needs to pass, the driver will have to make that decision based on the law and safe opportunity to do so.

Avoiding rear-end collisions

On contoured rural roads, it’s easy for a car traveling at higher speeds to be surprised by a larger, slow-moving vehicle, especially around a sharp bend or after the crest of a hill. It’s difficult for drivers of faster, smaller vehicles to judge the speed and gap distance of a larger piece of equipment.

You can help avoid rear-end collisions by monitoring your mirrors for fast-approaching vehicles and making sure your vehicle’s warning devices, such as SMV signs, are clearly visible. When moving large ag equipment on heavily traveled paved roads, you should utilize an escort vehicle.

A motorcycle collides with a cultivator attachment.

You can help reduce the potential for deadly roadway collisions when moving agricultural equipment by ensuring your equipment is highly visible to other motorists. The more visible you are, the less likely you’ll be involved in a collision. Being seen can mean the difference between life and death.

Please take a moment to review the real-life case study we’ve outlined below. It may save you and your company from costly accidents, lawsuits and violations.

A case study of a collision with a tractor and a motorcyclist

An employee was driving a tractor pulling a 17-ft wide cultivator attachment extending 5-6 feet across the center line and obstructing the opposite lane of a two-lane country road. It was a clear, dry day; the farmer wasn’t utilizing an escort vehicle and the cultivator lacked reflective markings or flags.

A motorcyclist traveling in the opposite lane didn’t see the approaching cultivator and drove directly into its path, killing the rider instantly. The rider wasn’t wearing a helmet and didn’t appear to slow down before impact.

Risk Management recommendations to help avoid similar accidents

• Establish standard operating procedures for the safe movement of equipment on public roads. Standardized procedures enable everyone within your operation to perform the task in a consistent manner. Managers should familiarize themselves with state farm vehicle requirements to ensure compliance.
• Use an escort vehicle when driving a wide load. An escort vehicle protects the oversize load and warns motorists of an unusual roadway condition.
• Install proper lighting. Even in daylight, lights make it easier for others to spot you.
• Use reflective markings/flags. Reflective marking material is an effective, low-cost way to identify agricultural equipment. When towing equipment, reflective tape and fluorescent flags should be placed on the outmost edges of the equipment. Fluorescent material is visible in both daytime and low-light conditions.
• Mark agricultural equipment with slow-moving vehicle (SMV) emblems. The SMV emblem is a requirement for moving “implements of husbandry” on public roadways. Implements of husbandry are identified as those vehicles designed and adapted exclusively for agricultural, horticultural or livestock-raising operations.

Surgeries

Our Horse Mortality Insurance & Major Medical Insurance is unique in the industry

• This policy is available for foals, yearlings, stallions, mares and geldings of all breeds and types.
• We have designed this coverage to insure your horse against death from almost any cause.
• This includes transportation and humane destruction made necessary by an illness or accidental injury anywhere in the continental United States.
• Basic Form includes coverage for theft and $3,000 colic surgery including aftercare at no additional cost. We can even quote and bind coverage on the telephone!
• Our policy automatically includes Free Colic Surgery coverage, providing the horse does not have a history of colic problems. The coverage limit is 60% of the insured value with a maximum of $3,000 and no deductible. If you insure your horse for Major Medical Insurance or Surgical as well, you will have access to the maximum limits on both coverage parts.

Major Medical and Surgical

This coverage will help you control unforeseen veterinary expenses for events related to the health of your animal. This valuable endorsement covers up to $7,500, $10,000 or $15,000 of reasonable and customary veterinary, medical and surgical care charges necessitated by accident, injury or illness. Humane destruction is covered under the policy but economic destruction is not. If you choose to put your horse down for financial reasons, the policy will not offer coverage for this. Not all policies are created equally. The adage “you get what you pay for” is very true. For example, most policies impose a time limit for how long the insurer will cover a medical problem. This limit varies between companies and can be as short as four weeks. Our policy will cover for the problem for the entire policy period in which it happened. This can be quite important if you are dealing with a serious problem like EPM where the necessary medication and care is both lengthy and costly.

• Diagnostics
• Lameness
• Continuing Care – No policy continuing care time
• Navicular, arthritis, and DJD – Conditions such as navicular, arthritis, and DJD are not automatically excluded.
• Medical extensions – Policy provides for up to 30 days additional coverage after expiration. Some companies have no extension on medical conditions occurring just prior to expiration.

You love horses, and you love teaching people about horses. However, horses and people can both be unpredictable. So if someone gets hurt or property is damaged, you could be held liable.

Here are a few examples of accidents that could occur with horse-related businesses:

• An insured independent horse trainer was working on one of our insured’s farms when struck by lightning. He was taken away by ambulance to a hospital.
• During a riding lesson with an insured instructor, the horse stopped suddenly, and the student was thrown off, fracturing her spine.
• While training a third party’s pony, an insured horse trainer was kicked in the face

Don’t wait until you file a claim to determine if you have the proper insurance protection.

A horse farm or ranch needs specialized insurance protection for both horses and property.

You know horses are capable of damaging property and injuring people. So your insurance coverage needs to offer insurance protection against not only those kinds of liability claims but also provide coverage for your home, stables, equipment, and even your personal valuables.

With over 30 years of experience writing equine insurance, we understand the risks and liabilities to horse farm and ranch owners like you are exposed to. That’s why we provide customizable insurance solutions to cover your farm property and commercial equine operation.

Why do I need insurance for my horse farm and ranch?

It’s critical to have insurance protection against claims you may experience when managing your farm or ranch business. Patricia Scott Insurance is an equine specialist who is writing policies and helping her clients with claims. We can provide liability, and medical payments, along with property coverage for your home, stables, equipment, vehicles, valuables, and more—all in one policy.

Don’t wait until you file a claim to find out if you have the proper insurance protection for your horse farm or ranch.

You can never be quite sure how a horse will react in a certain situation. Even the gentlest of horses can injure someone or damage property. If it’s a customer or visitor who gets injured, or someone’s property is damaged and you are found negligent, you could be held responsible and at risk of having to pay a high monetary settlement. That’s why you may need a Markel Specialty commercial equine liability policy—even if you have other coverage that protects you from general liability.

Here are two examples of claims we’ve paid out for our customers*:

• A student was riding on our customer’s property, when the horse suddenly stopped. The student was thrown off and fractured her spine.
• A prospective buyer of a horse took the horse on a trail ride after our customer first had them sign a trail ride release. Along the trail, the horse wanted to turn around and go back. The buyer was told several times to rein the horse in or turn him around, but the buyer let the horse proceed. The horse picked up speed and the rider fell off.

You never can tell what might happen. However, we can provide commercial equine liability insurance protection for you and your horse business.