Illinois expands effort to reduce highway accidents involving farm machinery

Mississippi State University photo

Illinois hopes to cut down the number of rural-road deaths involving farm machinery by simply reminding drivers to slow down on rural roads. The Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois State Police are using banners on rural roads that read “Caution, Slow Down, Share the Road,” to remind drivers and farmers to look out for each other, writes Karina Gonzalez of The Pantagraph in Bloomington.

Since 2008, 29 Illinois residents have died in highway accidents involving farm machinery, writes Gonzalez. Crashes involving large farm machinery such as tractors and combines are the second leading cause of death on rural roads in the state.

The banner program began last year in several counties in Western Illinois, Gonzalez reports. Counties are responsible for the cost and placement of the 3-by-20 foot banners.