Harvest season is underway in Wisconsin, when motorists and farmers encounter each other more often on our public roadways.
Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) signs are being distributed to farmers free of charge. This effort is through a partnership involving Marshfield Clinic Research Institute’s National Farm Medicine Center (NFMC), Rural Mutual Insurance Company, the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Agricultural Safety and Health Program, the family of Mike Biadasz and the Auction of Champions.
Limited quantities of SMV signs are available at Marathon Feed in Marathon, and also Allied Cooperative in Stratford, Auburndale and Hixton.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, there were 136 crashes involving motorists and farm vehicles in Wisconsin last year. This resulted in 50 injuries and two deaths. The most recent Wisconsin Farm Related Fatalities reports show roadway deaths accounted for 15 percent of all farm-related fatalities (6 out of 40) in 2019. In in 2020 they accounted for 18 percent of fatalities (5 out of 28).
It’s imperative that farmers make their equipment as visible as possible on public roadways. This should be done through the SMV emblem and also functional lighting systems that include flashers and turn signals. This according to John Shutske, University of Wisconsin professor and agricultural safety and health specialist.
Click here for more information about lighting and marking recommendations as well as regulations for agricultural equipment in Wisconsin.
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