SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Departments of Transportation and Agriculture today issued a warning to motorists to watch out for tractors and other farm equipment on rural highways. The harvest season throughout the state is peaking.

“We recognize that agriculture is Illinois’ number one industry and right now farmers are out in full-force,” IDOT Secretary Tim Martin said. “We would caution motorists in rural areas to be on the watch for farm equipment, you will close the gap between yourself and a tractor or combine, very quickly, and we would urge you to slow down if you see farm equipment out on the road.”

As of September 1, 2004, all vehicles using public roads exclusively for agricultural purposes are required to use a new Slow Moving Vehicle emblem that is brighter and longer lasting than previous ones. These triangular SMV emblems serve as a caution to motorists that the vehicle they are overtaking will likely be moving at a rate of speed, much slower than their own.

“Larger farms mean more producers are traveling further than ever on our roads and the equipment used today is much larger than when I started farming,” DOA Director, Chuck Hartke said. “I would also ask motorists to be patient, farmers don’t want to be on the road slowing down traffic anymore than motorists want to be stuck behind them. Harvest and planting are essential times of the year for our Illinois economy, and we just ask motorists to be patient.”

In Illinois, this year to date, there have been six fatalities involving crashes between cars and farm equipment. Over the past four years there have been 973 crashes involving farm equipment on Illinois roads, resulting in 22 deaths and 312 injuries.