Neighbor Tractor Accident

[Industrial Toys]

I never know at what height I should carry my forks on the road. At a level that will best insure MY survival or that of the motoring public. I want that loader as a crumple zone. I will never forget the chalk message I saw on the back of a five ton flat bed truck with a very long overhang out back. "SMILE, As you go under"

 

[ovrszd]

I've got another elderly neighbor (82) about 4 miles away that carries a LOT of big bales. His family have 800 head of beef cattle. His favorite tractor is a 95HP Case/IH. He commonly carries a bale on each end. I met him coming down the hiway a couple months ago carrying two bales. The front bale was sliding along on the hiway. I'm sure he lowered it so he could see over it good with no thought to it dragging on the hiway. I called his Son and apologized for getting in their business but told him what I saw. He thanked me profusely and quickly hung up his Cell Phone. A couple weeks later I saw the elderly guy in the Farm Store. He thanked me for looking out for him. I knew immediately what he was talking about. I patted him on the shoulder and said "you'd do the same for me" with a smile.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Do doubt, some kind of rapid deceleration event!

 

[Thomas]

Nasty...Dang glad he's okay.

 

[ovrszd]

View attachment 534164


Do doubt, some kind of rapid deceleration event!

Yep, he ran over his FEL.

 

[Threepoint]

The nearest fuel station is only 1 mile down the road from me, but I won't even drive the tractor that far to fuel up. Speed limit is 35 mph, and no-passing the whole way. I've got a flashing yellow SMV beacon, a SMV sign, turn signals, plus emergency flashers. But my top sustained speed would be about 15 mph. I figure I'd be making already-impatient drivers worse. Add to that the distracted driving we all see every day due to texting, cell phones, GPS fiddling, etc. Nope, it's 5-gal diesel fuel cans for me.

 

[Industrial Toys]

In my opinion the turn signals are useless with the four ways going and unless there is a standard for all tractors the motoring public best not make any assumptions about a drivers intentions. Our JD has indicators but no automatic shut off, so it would not be the first time, I forgot to shut them off.

 

[Threepoint]

Very good point.

 

[3930dave]

Most accidents are an almost uncanny series of screw ups.

Thanks for posting this MHE - glad to hear nobody was injured, and this is a good reminder for us all....

To IT's point, sometimes just one simple thing can make a big difference. One of the few things govt over-regulation up here got right was Daytime Running Lights - Dorito truck may have had it's lights on, but if not, that one simple change might have made the difference in visibility to the tractor driver.

Rgds, D.

 

[ovrszd]

In my opinion the turn signals are useless with the four ways going and unless there is a standard for all tractors the motoring public best not make any assumptions about a drivers intentions. Our JD has indicators but no automatic shut off, so it would not be the first time, I forgot to shut them off.

Yep, I pay NO attention to what lights are flashing.

 

[3930dave]

Yep, I pay NO attention to what lights are flashing.

Wouldn't have helped in this accident, but I saw a big Massey on the road here this Fall with turn-signal extension arms on the rear fenders. Might have been a factory option, or a good-quality aftermarket product. Really helped distinguish when the operator put on the turn-signal.

But, I agree with your point, I don't assume that any vehicle on the road will be doing exactly what their signals indicate ahead of time..... too easy to have a forgotten signal left on.....

Rgds, D.

 

[Industrial Toys]

A few times I have been behind a semi with its turn signal on and it simply doesn't turn. Finally I pass only to see the four ways going on the tractor.

 

[Deere Dude]

A close neighbor farmer and friend dodged a bullet a few years ago. He left his rental farm with a JG 65Hp 4WD with a 7' bucket of fence line stone in it. He turned right onto 2 lane country road and was to turn left in a couple hundred feet away onto another road. Somebody passed him on the left and when pulling in clipped his bucket and wrecked the right side of the car and unloaded the bucket for him onto the road.

What I think really happened was he turned into the car because the accident was right at the intersection he needed to turn into anyway. When he told me his side of the story I nodded in agreement but I don't really believe him. Her blames the car and the cops agree with him but I think he got away with one.

 

[Industrial Toys]

That's the problem. She probably had no insight that he might turn. He should have looked and could probably have avoided the accident altogether. Or slow down and park on the shoulder and see if the coast is clear. Sure it takes a few extra seconds.

 

[ovrszd]

Wouldn't have helped in this accident, but I saw a big Massey on the road here this Fall with turn-signal extension arms on the rear fenders. Might have been a factory option, or a good-quality aftermarket product. Really helped distinguish when the operator put on the turn-signal.

But, I agree with your point, I don't assume that any vehicle on the road will be doing exactly what their signals indicate ahead of time..... to easy to have a forgotten signal left on.....

Rgds, D.

My friend's large JD tractors have lights on arms that swing down to extend the light beyond the sides of the tractor, or swing up out of the way when in the field.

 

[ovrszd]

A close neighbor farmer and friend dodged a bullet a few years ago. He left his rental farm with a JG 65Hp 4WD with a 7' bucket of fence line stone in it. He turned right onto 2 lane country road and was to turn left in a couple hundred feet away onto another road. Somebody passed him on the left and when pulling in clipped his bucket and wrecked the right side of the car and unloaded the bucket for him onto the road.

What I think really happened was he turned into the car because the accident was right at the intersection he needed to turn into anyway. When he told me his side of the story I nodded in agreement but I don't really believe him. Her blames the car and the cops agree with him but I think he got away with one.

In Missouri it's illegal to pass when at any type of intersection, even farm field entrances.

 

[ovrszd]

That's the problem. She probably had no insight that he might turn. He should have looked and could probably have avoided the accident altogether. Or slow down and park on the shoulder and see if the coast is clear. Sure it takes a few extra seconds.

When I'm making a left turn with no one coming at me I slowly cross the center line and by the time I'm at my turn they would have to run off on the left shoulder to pass me.

 

[Industrial Toys]

They always called that a "Farmers Turn"

 

[ovrszd]

They always called that a "Farmers Turn"

Yep. Has saved me several times when I can't see behind me. I even do it in my truck if I'm about to make a left turn and I see someone coming up fast behind me.