{"id":133704,"date":"2026-09-25T11:30:05","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T15:30:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/?p=133704"},"modified":"2026-10-13T13:40:57","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T17:40:57","slug":"motorists-stay-alert-and-share-the-road-with-farm-equipment-this-fall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/2026\/09\/25\/motorists-stay-alert-and-share-the-road-with-farm-equipment-this-fall\/","title":{"rendered":"Motorists: Stay alert and share the road with farm equipment this fall"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Harvest season is fully underway for Hoosier farmers which means Hoosier motorists will begin to see large slow-moving farm equipment traveling Indiana\u2019s roads and highways.<\/p>\n

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Indiana State Department of Agriculture news release:<\/p>\n

Motorists: Stay alert and share the road with farm equipment this fall<\/strong><\/p>\n

Indianapolis, Indiana (Sept. 25, 2026) \u2014 Harvest season is fully underway for Hoosier farmers. That means Hoosier motorists will begin to see large slow-moving farm equipment traveling Indiana\u2019s roads and highways.<\/p>\n

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture<\/a>, Indiana Department of Transportation<\/a>, and the Indiana State Police<\/a> want to encourage motorists to slow down, be alert and be patient on roadways this fall.<\/p>\n

“As harvest season begins, we caution all motorists to be mindful of all farm equipment that may be on or near the roadways,” Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith, Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “Thank you to the Indiana State Police and the Indiana Department of Transportation for partnering with my office on this important safety announcement.”<\/p>\n

From 2020-2024, 22 occupants were involved in crashes with farm equipment in Indiana which resulted in seven deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration<\/a>*.<\/p>\n

“Safety on our roadways during harvest season is a shared responsibility,\u201d said Indiana State Police Superintendent Anthony Scott. \u201cWe ask that motorists exercise patience and grant our farming community the necessary space to safely navigate the roads as they work to harvest their crops and provide for families across Indiana.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the term \u201cfarm equipment\u201d encompasses a wide range of vehicles, during harvest season this could include tractors, combines, grain carts, grain wagons and large trucks hauling agricultural products. These vehicles are wide, sometimes taking up most of the road, and often travel at speeds no greater than 25 mph.<\/p>\n

\u201cDrivers must practice patience and courtesy when they encounter farm equipment on the road,\u201d said INDOT Commissioner Lyndsay Quist. \u201cAgriculture keeps Indiana\u2019s economy moving, and farmers require extra time and space to do their jobs safely.\u201d<\/p>\n

The following list includes several safety tips for motorists approaching large farm equipment:<\/p>\n