Happy Spring Everyone - On our page, we are often sharing, posting and educating all things agriculture! Today's post will be about safety and will be brought to you by the number 11. Tonight, l was finishing my day that began at 4 AM (a typical start for us), following my husband with my 4-way flashers on as he was bringing home equipment after a long day working in one of our other fields. We were suddenly being followed by a driver with a passenger in their van. They were agitated that they happened upon us forcing them to slow down. Without hesitation, they passed us at a location in the road where there was a double yellow line, a curve in the road, and a hill ahead of them obstructing their view in order to safely pass . Fortunate for them, and us, there wasn't any oncoming traffic, but they took a chance. A chance that someone wouldn't be coming the other way. What if they were? What if someone were coming? Where would the driver have gone? There wouldn't have been anywhere for anyone to go except to hit head-on, hit my husband, or me. In this instance, they were able to make it around us and I counted 11 seconds before we were at a safe spot where we were actually turning off the road and the road opened up with a clear passing view that would have been safe for everyone. 11 stinking seconds! You know what? It wasn't the only close call we experienced today. You see, most farmers today, because we are losing farm land at an extremely alarming rate, have to move equipment from field to field using the roads along with motorists. Earlier in the day, another friend of our farming family was moving equipment. As he was beginning to turn right into the lane he was heading to, he had to swing out to make the turn - (similar to that of a tractor trailer that makes a wide right turn and yes, his tractor has turning signals) We're all aware of it. We all know it happens. As he was beginning to turn into the lane, (same lane my husband and I were turning into later) a car decided it would be a great idea to pass on his right side. You guessed it, the driver was nearly struck by the farmer and his tractor. Please, take time to slow down, wait for a safe spot to pass, and share the road - it's the law! We don't enjoy holding you up any more than you enjoy being held up. We're trying to finish our day too. We want to make it home to our family too. 11 seconds. #agriculture #sharetheroad #besafe #farminginpa #longday
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