Neighbor Tractor Accident

[aczlan]

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.

I had a woman pass me on the tractor in a BMW when I was turning like that.
I looked, it was clear 1/4 of a mile down the road (I could see to the sign where the speed limit went from 40 to 55mph and there were no cars in view), I turned right onto the road and made an almost immediate left (with my left signal on and pointing left with my hand). I was about halfway across the oncoming lane when she passed me with her middle finger out the sunroof, a phone held to her ear, 2 wheels in the gravel, 2 wheels on the shoulder.
Not sure how fast she was going, but it was a lot faster than 55mph.

Aaron Z

 

[MossRoad]

It drives me nuts when someone moves over into the oncoming lane to make a left turn. On many occasions I've had to go off the right side of the road because oncoming traffic came upon the left turner and then into my lane to avoid the head on. They laser focus on the thing in their lane and don't see me in my lane behind their obstruction.

The same thing goes for people that cross the oncoming lane and drive up to their mailbox to get the mail from their car. Then oncoming traffic arrives and they have oncoming traffic on the left and the right of their lane.

 

[3930dave]

I had a woman pass me on the tractor in a BMW when I was turning like that.
I looked, it was clear 1/4 of a mile down the road (I could see to the sign where the speed limit went from 40 to 55mph and there were no cars in view), I turned right onto the road and made an almost immediate left (with my left signal on and pointing left with my hand). I was about halfway across the oncoming lane when she passed me with her middle finger out the sunroof, a phone held to her ear, 2 wheels in the gravel, 2 wheels on the shoulder.
Not sure how fast she was going, but it was a lot faster than 55mph.

Aaron Z

BMW, it's much more than just a financial commitment...... you agree to drive like that in the sales contract.....

With any luck, this was hers:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/front-porch/309524-bmw-break-my-window.html

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

It drives me nuts when someone moves over into the oncoming lane to make a left turn.

Usually works OK, in a low traffic environment.

It's a bit of a lose/lose in heavier traffic. Depending what you're towing behind a tractor, you may have little/no rearward visibility - in that case here, you may get people trying to blast past you on the left if you sit in the right lane, just as you start your turn. Saw a guy on a motorcycle rip the front bumper off an Olds 88 years ago, doing just that.

Many people don't scan the road far enough ahead, others just don't care.....

Biology, while not my strong science, taught me that over-crowding produces deviant behaviour in animals..... roads today are just one example of that.....

Rgds, D.

 

[MossRoad]

I guess I'm just used to coming up on farm equipment going slow on narrow highways. I'll agree lots of folks don't give them the room they need, or, for that matter, the rules they are allowed under our state laws. However, I think they're supposed to pull over first chance they get when they have more than three vehicles backed up behind them, and in mint season, they just won't pull over for anyone. And that makes the car guy angry, and brings out the worst in aggressive behavior.

 

[Deere Dude]

However, I think they're supposed to pull over first chance they get when they have more than three vehicles backed up behind them, and in mint season, they just won't pull over for anyone. And that makes the car guy angry, and brings out the worst in aggressive behavior.

At times you pull over and stop to allow the three cars to pass. They sometimes hesitate as they pass which chews up more time. Then you take off again and get up to speed then before you know it you have three more cars behind you. You can't win other than to just rip it and get to where you are going and drive on the right as far as possible.

 

[aczlan]

I guess I'm just used to coming up on farm equipment going slow on narrow highways. I'll agree lots of folks don't give them the room they need, or, for that matter, the rules they are allowed under our state laws. However, I think they're supposed to pull over first chance they get when they have more than three vehicles backed up behind them, and in mint season, they just won't pull over for anyone. And that makes the car guy angry, and brings out the worst in aggressive behavior.

When I am driving down the road, I try to ride the shoulder and wave people past whenever possible but its not always possible (or safe) with a loaded haywagon and I will ride the yellow line and not wave people by if its not safe to pass (car coming or blind curve).

Aaron Z

 

[MossRoad]

At times you pull over and stop to allow the three cars to pass. They sometimes hesitate as they pass which chews up more time. Then you take off again and get up to speed then before you know it you have three more cars behind you. You can't win other than to just rip it and get to where you are going and drive on the right as far as possible.

Yeah, I can see how a farmer would get frustrated, however, its against the law. He has to pull over. Just like the guy in the car has to wait if he cant pass.

 

[LouNY]

Yeah, I can see how a farmer would get frustrated, however, its against the law. He has to pull over. Just like the guy in the car has to wait if he cant pass.

I'm glad that's not the law here. At times I've waited several minutes to get out of a field with a load of silage and when I get that load moving I'm not going to pull over and stop. Now most of our road hauls are under 3 miles, when I'm on our town roads which are narrow and often have rough shoulders and a 3-4 inch drop to the shoulder I'm not running that high dollar tractor tire on that edge, on top of that our roads have numerous blind corners and knolls that can't be seen over or around when I meet traffic I'll throttle down and depending on the road shoulder and my load maybe drop a gear or 2 and then right back into it. When we are doing haylage or corn silage my first and last loads are the tractor chopper and wagon there is no safe way for anyone to pass me so quite often I run right down the middle. When I get to the state highway with a good paved shoulder I'll take a full traffic lane and that shoulder when I get close to my left turn across traffic as soon as on coming traffic lets me I'm straddling the center line and starting my turn otherwise the jerks in cars and pickups are going to try and pass as I'm turning .
About a month ago I was following my nephew back to the farm he was in a NH 6050 with a feed wagon behind him, the farm driveway is on top of a knoll as he slowed to turn a jackass passed us both using what shoulder there was if anyone had been coming they would have had a headon collision because of that idiot. I loss track every year of the stupid drivers on rural roads with or without farm equipment being there. When we move cows across the road we stop traffic, I have had stupid ***** try to drive around me with 20 to 100 animals in the road.
So guess what height my loader bucket sets when i'm on a loader tractor.

 

[aczlan]

Yeah, I can see how a farmer would get frustrated, however, its against the law. He has to pull over. Just like the guy in the car has to wait if he cant pass.

It is suggested, but not legally required here. Much like LouNY, I am not going to pull off the shoulder and risk shredding the tire on a loaded haywagon (or a $$$ tractor tire) when I am on the road for less than a mile. If someone is in a hurry, they are welcome to pass and if its clear I will move over as far as I can safely.
However, when its my time to make a left turn, I will take my half out of the middle to make sure that the other lunatics on the road understand that I am turning left and don't try to pass me on the left (possibly removing my front axle in the process).

Aaron Z

 

[Industrial Toys]

So what's the answer? I would say for starters that every tractor and trailer/implement has to have standardized turn signals coupled to the steering wheel and no fourways while traveling. SMV or beacons.

This, if you wish to travel on a public roadway.

Otherwise it is simply going to be a game of russian roulette.

There is a requirement here for larger equipment to have an escort, but I hardly see how that helps anything. It's just one more thing the person in behind has to pass!

 

[MossRoad]

Here it is for Indiana...

IC 9-21-5-7
Reduction of speed; impeding normal and reasonable movement; right-of-way to other vehicles
Sec. 7. A person may not drive a motor vehicle at a slow speed that impedes or blocks the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with the law. A person who is driving at a slow speed so that three (3) or more other vehicles are blocked and cannot pass on the left around the vehicle shall give right-of-way to the other vehicles by pulling off to the right of the right lane at the earliest reasonable opportunity and allowing the blocked vehicles to pass.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Often, the tractor driver can't even see what is behind him. In fact, if there is eye or other contact, then there usually isn't a problem.

I generally won't pass a road grader or tractor until the driver sees me. If he starts to "FREAK OUT" I abort my maneuver.

 

[CobyRupert]

I stop using my flasher lights if I’m going to also use a turn signal.
I think many drivers that once they see two flashers, don’t notice when one side becomes solid on and the other one continues to flash; or realize that it means a turn signal for the side that continues to flash. There’s no change or “signal”. It just looks like the flasher relay for one side stuck.
Better to turn flashers off ahead of turn, and then put turn signal on.
Tractors with FEL and forks are the worst when entering a roadway. Forks stick way out, and driver sits at back of vehicle.
Usually FEL is going to swing into other lane. When approaching road I raise forks or bucket above the height that most vehicles are going to hit it (if possible).

 

[daugen]

Sometimes the betting man in you, just wants to go for it.
No...there are usually better solutions. This is exactly what happened to me about thirty years ago at an intersection
in my small town in PA. Early morning, sun behind me, blinding the lady at the stop sign on my right. No light, she just has to wait for me to get past.
I start into the intersection and she floors it and drives into the side of my car. When I asked her why she did that, she said she couldn't see
at all and she had to go sometime. I was speechless. I was also the town's primary insurance agent and here I was with my car in bits in one of the two intersections in town.
And as the locals drove by, I saw a lot of grins. See, happens to you too... Very embarrassing as you might imagine.
There is always time to be safe; Back up and turn around if you have to. Or plan right turns only if you can. Not like you can parade your silage wagon all through town...

I have a lot of big ag equipment, 9 series JD, combines, etc that go up my road. There isn't anyone getting past them. Either the implement or the head is so wide it hogs up the road.
Most are good about having a truck front and rear, but some just fly down the road on a wing and a prayer.

Good ideas about turning off flashers if you have to make turns. I turn on all my lights, I mean every one of them, and use hand signals in addition to blinkers.
Of course, I wonder if millennials even know what pointing to the sky means...

 

[ovrszd]

Here it is for Indiana...

IC 9-21-5-7
Reduction of speed; impeding normal and reasonable movement; right-of-way to other vehicles
Sec. 7. A person may not drive a motor vehicle at a slow speed that impedes or blocks the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with the law. A person who is driving at a slow speed so that three (3) or more other vehicles are blocked and cannot pass on the left around the vehicle shall give right-of-way to the other vehicles by pulling off to the right of the right lane at the earliest reasonable opportunity and allowing the blocked vehicles to pass.

What is Indiana's definition of a motor vehicle in regards to this law?

 

[aczlan]

What is Indiana's definition of a motor vehicle in regards to this law?

Not a farm tractor, an implement of agriculture designed to be operated primarily in a farm field or on farm premises, or an electric personal assistive mobility device:

IC 9-13-2-105"Motor vehicle"
Sec. 105. (a) "Motor vehicle" means, except as otherwise provided in this section, a vehicle that is self-propelled. The term does not include a farm tractor, an implement of agriculture designed to be operated primarily in a farm field or on farm premises, or an electric personal assistive mobility device.
(b) "Motor vehicle", for purposes of IC 9-21, means:
(1) a vehicle that is self-propelled; or
(2) a vehicle that is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated upon rails.
(c) "Motor vehicle", for purposes of IC 9-32, includes a semitrailer, trailer, or recreational vehicle.

Aaron Z

 

[eddie48]

When I am driving down the road, I try to ride the shoulder and wave people past whenever possible but its not always possible (or safe) with a loaded haywagon and I will ride the yellow line and not wave people by if its not safe to pass (car coming or blind curve).

Aaron Z

Consider this: When you wave someone by, you assume the liability for their safe passage. That could leave you in a bunch of legal trouble if you didn't see the oncoming car/motorcycle/bicycle/etc. and there is an accident. I'd rather pull over and let them decide when to pass me.

 

[Industrial Toys]

How many thousands of people have been hit by someone motioning them to go? I was once the passenger in a car T-Boned like that. I'm not sure the person waving someone is liable. That would make you feel quite ****tty, but in truth many drive off!

 

[aczlan]

Consider this: When you wave someone by, you assume the liability for their safe passage. That could leave you in a bunch of legal trouble if you didn't see the oncoming car/motorcycle/bicycle/etc. and there is an accident. I'd rather pull over and let them decide when to pass me.

Good point, I dont do it when there is any doubt and realistically, I dont go very far on the road anymore. I used to mow the field at a fab shop down the road, but we moved and they have someone else do it now.

Aaron Z