Warning to avoid collisions during summer harvest

• Ensure vehicles are roadworthy

• Maintain tractors and machinery

• Take care even under pressure

Farmers and harvest workers are being urged to take extra care on rural roads this summer – and help reduce the number of harvest accidents.

Collisions between agricultural vehicles and other road users are 52% more likely between the start of May and the end of September, according to the latest accident statistics published by NFU Mutual.

As farmers prepare to begin the harvest season and agricultural traffic increases, the rural insurer has teamed up with local police – urging all rural road users to take extra care over the coming months.

Coinciding with the hotter weather when people look to explore the countryside, harvest season brings a greater need for all motorists to respect their fellow road users – and the usual hazards on country roads, says NFU Mutual.

Heavy traffic

First cut silage has already seen an increase in road traffic. The next few months will see even higher volumes – including inexperienced harvest workers driving tractors pulling heavy grain trailers or wide agricultural machinery.

On average, there were 423 of these accidents per month between May and September – the peak time for silaging, hay making and harvesting cereal crops – compared to 249 per month between October and April.

As well as an increase in agricultural traffic, the summer months also coincide with the school holidays and a greater amount of leisure traffic, with road users not necessarily used to rural roads, which can further increase the risk of accidents.

The increase in agricultural vehicles in the road coincides with the sunnier weather and school holidays to greatly increase the volume of traffic on rural roads during this time, said NFU Mutual road sfety specialist Jade Devlin.

Accident advice

Rural motorists should be aware of tractors, trailers and other agricultural machinery, said Ms Devlin. “We’re beginning to see more tractors, trailers and large agricultural machinery such as combine harvesters on our rural roads.

“Unfortunately, our claims data shows that accidents involving these agricultural vehicles and third parties are over 50% more likely in the harvesting season, so we’re sharing some advice on how everyone can stay safe on rural roads this spring and summer.

“Agricultural vehicles are generally large, wide and slow, which can tempt road users to overtake, but it’s vital to remain patient and only overtake when it’s safe – when you can see a clear road ahead, there are no field openings, and you have space to pass.”

Farmers and contractors should not drive too quickly, said Ms Devlin. But they should pull over where safe to do so to allow built-up traffic to pass – unless they were going a very short distance to the next field or farmyard.

“Motorists and cyclists should be patient, give agricultural vehicles room to turn and not drive too closely to them, which can be dangerous and can obstruct your view before overtaking,” she said.

Mutual respect

“It’s important to remember that rural roads are vital arteries for our agricultural industry, allowing farmers to bring in the harvest which helps feed the population, as well as valued spaces which allow us to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

“Mutual respect from those who use rural roads for work and for pleasure will ultimately help keep our motorists, cyclists, horse riders and walkers safe this harvest season.”

Reiterating the importance of staying safe on rural roads this summer, police inspector Jem Mountford, from Warwickshire Police Roads Policing Unit, said: “Road safety is everyone’s responsibility.

“With more people using country roads during the summer months, it is important we are all patient and show respect to other road users. If everyone does this, then we can reduce the number of collisions and injuries on these roads.”