BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
PRODID:iCalendar-Ruby
BEGIN:VEVENT
CATEGORIES:Press Releases
DESCRIPTION:INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 21\, 2022) — Harvest season is here\, and L
 t. Gov. Suzanne Crouch\, Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) Dir
 ector Bruce Kettler\, Hoosier Ag Today and many other state agencies have t
 eamed up to promote roadway safety this fall encouraging motorists to watch
  out and slow down for farm equipment on rural roads this harvest season. T
 o kick off the campaign ISDA and Hoosier Ag Today created a Public Service 
 Announcement to inform drivers of what to do when encountering farm equipme
 nt on roadways. \n\nLt. Gov. Crouch\, as Indiana's Secretary of Agriculture
 \, is a staunch supporter of Hoosier farmers and wants to ensure everyone g
 ets home to their families safely. \n\n“There is nothing more beautiful tha
 n rural Indiana in the fall\,” said Lt. Gov. Crouch. “But\, with that beaut
 y comes heightened roadway dangers during harvest season. I am encouraging 
 all Hoosiers to be alert and be patient on rural roads this harvest season.
 ”\n\nIn 2020 three vehicles were involved in crashes with farm equipment in
  Indiana which resulted in two deaths\, according to the National Highway T
 raffic Safety Administration.\n\n“Rural road safety is something we all tak
 e very seriously. Each year Hoosiers lose their lives unnecessarily\,” said
  Bruce Kettler\, Indiana State Department of Agriculture director. “I want 
 to continue to encourage roadway safety for motorists and for farmers. Thes
 e accidents can be prevented if we all slow down and use caution around far
 m equipment this fall.”  \n\nFarm equipment during harvest season could inc
 lude tractors\, combines\, grain carts\, grain wagons and large trucks haul
 ing agricultural products. These vehicles are wide\, sometimes taking up mo
 st of the road\, and often travel at speeds no greater than 25 mph.\n\nThe 
 following list includes several safety tips for motorists approaching large
  farm equipment:\n\nFarmers will pull over when they are able to let motori
 sts pass\, but it may take time for them to get to a safe place to do so.Be
  patient. Farm equipment is wide\, sometimes taking up most of the road.Be 
 careful when passing. Do not pass in a designated “No Passing Zone” or with
 in 100 feet of any intersection\, railroad grade crossing\, bridge\, elevat
 ion structure or tunnel.Do not try to pass a slow-moving vehicle on the lef
 t without ensuring that the vehicle is not planning a left turn. It may app
 ear that the driver is pulling over for you to pass when it is actually pre
 paring to turn. You will drive right into its path\, endangering yourself a
 nd the farmer.Please be aware of farmers working near the road and semi tru
 cks and trailers parked alongside rural roads. Avoid tailgating\, as some f
 arm equipment might have to make sudden stops along the road.Allow plenty o
 f time to get to a destination\, be aware of alternate routes and avoid dis
 tractions.“Despite encouraging motorists and farmers alike to take extra pr
 ecaution on roadways during harvest season\, crashes still occur every year
 \,” said Doug Carter\, Indiana State Police Superintendent. “One death is o
 ne too many. I want to remind everyone to remain alert and exercise caution
  as you travel on Indiana’s rural roads this fall.”\n\nFor a list of safety
  tips\, click here or visit isda.in.gov. To view the full Public Service An
 nouncement\, click here. The following organizations will be working togeth
 er to share this important safety message during planting season: Hoosier A
 g Today\, Indiana Department of Homeland Security\, Indiana Department of T
 ransportation and Indiana State Police.\n\n###\n\nClick here for an audio r
 ecording of Lt. Gov. Crouch. \n\nClick here for an audio recording of ISDA 
 Director Bruce Kettler.
DTEND:20220921T110000Z
DTSTAMP:20260308T131234Z
DTSTART:20220921T100000Z
LOCATION:
SEQUENCE:0
SUMMARY:Department of Agriculture warns of harvest traffic  on rural roads
UID:tag:localist.com\,2008:EventInstance_41109008381356
URL:https://events.in.gov/event/department_of_agriculture_warns_of_harvest_
 traffic_on_rural_roads
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR
