Inconsiderate drivers and tractor operators, bad mix...

[5030]

I am certainly glad that those who seem to believe that farm equipment needs permits and loading and being hauled are in a minority.
Fortunately we are in a farming area with Right to Farm laws which protect normal and established practices,
and roading farm equipment has been done since the days of horse drawn equipment and many of the roads were farm to farm and farm to town.

You and I and some others like Hay Dude and Richard will be right in there at the DMV, getting permits and paying for them so we can get to our fields. Of course we get to roll the cost of the permits and the additional employees driving vehicles front and rear of the unit too.... yeah right. Of course all over width permits also come with routing and restricted hours so we will have to only farm when it's 'legal' to move equipment, usually dawn to dusk and no weekends or holidays. Sounds like a plan to me.... not.

I don't believe any of us would be able to farm productively under those rules. Sounds to me like a recipe for bankruptcy. hard enough as it is (farming) without imposing more regulations. Growing and harvesting crops or rotational grazing don't adhere to rules and regulations and never have and are not going to start now or in the future.

Implement width has everything to do with productivity and getting it done in a timely manner. If all implements were legal width (102") maximum, productivity would be constrained to the point that it would not be cost effective to farm, bad enough as it is today to make a go of farming.

Even then, with all that, it won't deter the 'all about me and pizz on you drivers' from pulling stupid stunts anyway.

Like I said previously, all distills down to common sense and pro active driving habits, neither of which are the norm today.

 

[ovrszd]

LoL...Did you poll all the licensed drivers of particular geographic region or just a few mostly rural living members of a tractor message board...?? :laughing:

Yeah, I agree with that. The farmer is in the extreme minority. Even in farm country.

I live in one of the largest Counties in Missouri. 8,500 population. Cattle and grain farming. If you put it to a vote about restricting and/or regulating farm equipment it would be a 50/50% chance of passing.

I would contend that those who vote of restrictions would also complain the loudest about their food costs. :confused3:

 

[ovrszd]

You and I and some others like Hay Dude and Richard will be right in there at the DMV, getting permits and paying for them so we can get to our fields. Of course we get to roll the cost of the permits and the additional employees driving vehicles front and rear of the unit too.... yeah right. Of course all over width permits also come with routing and restricted hours so we will have to only farm when it's 'legal' to move equipment, usually dawn to dusk and no weekends or holidays. Sounds like a plan to me.... not.

I don't believe any of us would be able to farm productively under those rules. Sounds to me like a recipe for bankruptcy. hard enough as it is (farming) without imposing more regulations. Growing and harvesting crops or rotational grazing don't adhere to rules and regulations and never have and are not going to start now or in the future.

Implement width has everything to do with productivity and getting it done in a timely manner. If all implements were legal width (102") maximum, productivity would be constrained to the point that it would not be cost effective to farm, bad enough as it is today to make a go of farming.

Even then, with all that, it won't deter the 'all about me and pizz on you drivers' from pulling stupid stunts anyway.

Like I said previously, all distills down to common sense and pro active driving habits, neither of which are the norm today.

Surprisingly in today's world, our legislators still recognize that their interference in the conduct of AG business on public roads would cause the cost of production to go up. Thus the cost of food would go up. Even today, they are smart enough to leave it alone.

A humorous side note. On our State Hiways there are signs displaying a horse/buggy saying "Share the Roadway". We have no signs displaying a piece of farm equipment saying "Share the Roadway". :confused3:

 

[5030]

In that regard. Which is more dangerous? A large bright green combine, 18ft wide, with flashing lights, going 20mph? Or a black horse and buggy with no markings going 10mph?

Ask the Amish about that. I know out Middlefield, Ohio way, quite a few Amish have been killed or maimed by automobile drives being inattentive. Same way in Southern Ohio. They all have SMV placards but that don't seem to make any difference. I think 4 wheelers view the reflective triangles as a target.

Rather be in a combine or a tractor pulling an implement versus a buggy and a horse. Like Hay Dude aptly states... Size Matters and so does mass.

People forget that the 18 gauge 4 wheel steel coffin they are piloting irresponsibly is no match for 10,000 pounds plus of steel. Myself, I have no compunction about putting them in the ditch and have in the past and probably will in the future, maybe this coming week for all I know and the roadside ditches are pretty deep and usually water filled around here.

In a hurry to get nowhere fast. Have to get there quick so they can have a beer or whatever. Life can be extremely short with that attitude.

 

[5030]

If I put one in the 'pucker bush' this week, I'll snap a picture of the debacle on my phone and post it for everyone's enjoyment, well, not everyone, just those of us who farm.

 

[/pine]

If I put one in the 'pucker bush' this week, I'll snap a picture of the debacle on my phone and post it for everyone's enjoyment, well, not everyone, just those of us who farm.

With your "arrogant farmer" attitude...it wouldn't surprise me if one of these days you're going to put the wrong guy in a ditch and you will pay the consequences...when they pop a cap in your *****...paybacks are a *****...!

 

[MossRoad]

Driving down a 4 lane highway in my town. You can see driving on the shoulder is impossible. Its not wide enough and the situation is worsened because of poor road maintenance- low hanging branches are so common. If one were to drive partially on the shoulder, passing would be dangerous. In my 30+ years of roading equipment, best to take a lane, turn on all the warning lights, and just go and get it over with.
People who get angry need to move back to the city where they came from and honk their horns at each other for no reason. They move out to rural areas and dont want any farming or the minor inconveniences they cause, because their lives matter so much more.

HEY! Office Space Available!

 

[5030]

With your "arrogant farmer" attitude...it wouldn't surprise me if one of these days you're going to put the wrong guy in a ditch and you will pay the consequences...when they pop a cap in your *****...paybacks are a *****...!

I don't think so but you can if you wish. When I'm out in any of my tractors there is ALWAYS a brush rifle behind the seat (I deal with yotes all the time) and normally I'm carrying a sidearm as well. Usually, someone in the pucker bush is way more concerned with their immediate situation anyway, a situation that only they put themselves in by their abject arrogance and disregard for the rights of others.

I'm far from arrogant. Having said that, I cannot control the stupid actions of others that cause them to get in situations like that all by themselves.

Remember, YOU are the captain of your ship and only YOU can decide if you want to scuttle it or keep on sailing.

 

[Alan W.]

If you pass a tractor close enough to hit his extended axle shafts you are much, much too close!!!!

No, not when his tire is on the center line and the axle shaft is extending past that.
Point is he was in my lane and that time of morning the axle wasnt visible until you were upon him.

Point is there is a large difference between a smaller tractor with a 6 foot bush hog roading then an over width piece of farm equipment.

 

[K5lwq]

Pretty much if you hit anything you were too close. :confused3:

 

[5030]

No, not when his tire is on the center line and the axle shaft is extending past that.
Point is he was in my lane and that time of morning the axle wasnt visible until you were upon him.

Point is there is a large difference between a smaller tractor with a 6 foot bush hog roading then an over width piece of farm equipment.

No matter, the onus is on you to pass with adequate clearance or again, wait until he moves over when he has room to do that.

Pretty sure he saw you. Most tractors today, least AG tractors have closed circuit monitors on them (mine do) so I'm aware of what is behind me as well as to the sides.

Again. farming and roading isn't limited to a convenient time.

 

[/pine]

I don't think so but you can if you wish. When I'm out in any of my tractors there is ALWAYS a brush rifle behind the seat (I deal with yotes all the time) and normally I'm carrying a sidearm as well. Usually, someone in the pucker bush is way more concerned with their immediate situation anyway, a situation that only they put themselves in by their abject arrogance and disregard for the rights of others.

I'm far from arrogant. Having said that, I cannot control the stupid actions of others that cause them to get in situations like that all by themselves.

Remember, YOU are the captain of your ship and only YOU can decide if you want to scuttle it or keep on sailing.

Yeah...everybody that is in a hurry (and doesn't have the time to waste behind an inconsiderate farm hand on a tractor likely during the lunch hour or commute times etc) is just out to get a beer or a leisure ride...Right...! How do you know that person in a hurry is not late for work or a doctor or a hospice care person etc., etc. trying to get to someone in dire need??

When it comes to paybacks (they're a *****)...when you least expect it...expect it...the odds are against you that sooner or later one of your victims is going to catch up to you and put you in your place...!

One day you might just force a lawyer or anyone else who has the wherewithal to sue the **** out of you into a ditch sustaining bodily injury and end up taking that tractor and everything else you own away from...better hope you don't have any restricted meds in your system one day when complaints are filed and they make you take a blood test...!!

 

[Alan W.]

No matter, the onus is on you to pass with adequate clearance or again, wait until he moves over when he has room to do that.

Pretty sure he saw you. Most tractors today, least AG tractors have closed circuit monitors on them (mine do) so I'm aware of what is behind me as well as to the sides.

Again. farming and roading isn't limited to a convenient time.

Apparently there is some confusion. I did not attempt to pass him from behind. I passed by him going the opposite direction.

 

[paulfun9]

With your "arrogant farmer" attitude...it wouldn't surprise me if one of these days you're going to put the wrong guy in a ditch and you will pay the consequences...when they pop a cap in your *****...paybacks are a *****...!

When you read about vandalized equipment and his barn being burnt to the ground you won稚 have to wonder why it happened to such a nice person will you!

It amazes me how oblivious people are to how easy prey they are when somone decides to strike back!

The sad part is it痴 just this attitude which makes it so hard for us all to simply get along with others.

My machine will hold up a car for about 5 min till I get to my turn off but allowing them to pass will only hold me back for about 45 seconds in most cases. Why should I make that person wait.?

 

[BrokenTrack]

Everyone has the same rights...the other vehicle drivers have the right to travel at the legal posted speed limit...if a tractor is holding up other vehicles they (tractor operators) are infringing on those rights...there is a difference between an allowable inconvenience and someone on a tractor being a jerk...

First of all, driving is a privilege and not a right. However, some states (and Maine is one of them), we have The Right to Farm Act which covers a lot for us farmers.

But no driver has the right to travel at the posted speed. They have to be in control of their vehicle at all times. In the real world of driving, livestock, animals, trees, debris, and even children can be in the road. A driver thus has brakes, a steering wheel and a brain, and should apply that trifecta when driving to safely get to point A to Point B, even if a tractor happens to be traveling around a corner slowly on a sharp curve.

 

[/pine]

First of all, driving is a privilege and not a right. However, some states (and Maine is one of them), we have The Right to Farm Act which covers a lot for us farmers.

But no driver has the right to travel at the posted speed. They have to be in control of their vehicle at all times. In the real world of driving, livestock, animals, trees, debris, and even children can be in the road. A driver thus has brakes, a steering wheel and a brain, and should apply that trifecta when driving to safely get to point A to Point B, even if a tractor happens to be traveling around a corner slowly on a sharp curve.

LoL...Sure they do...you can call it a privilege but actually it IS a right...They don't call it "privilege of way"...LoL...

And YES a driver does have the right to drive at the posted limits as per the conditions...

FYI...here is what the SCOTUS has to say about it...:

"The right of a citizen to travel upon the public highways and to transport his property thereon, by horsedrawn carriage, wagon, or automobile, is not a mere privilege which may be permitted or prohibited at will, but a common right which he has under his right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. ...

U.S. Supreme Court says No License Necessary To Drive Automobile On Public Highways/Streets | Central Bail Bonds

 

[5030]

Apparently there is some confusion. I did not attempt to pass him from behind. I passed by him going the opposite direction.

...and may I inquire as to how fast you were going when you overtook the tractor? Did you exercise caution or were you 'hammer down'?

 

[5030]

When you read about vandalized equipment and his barn being burnt to the ground you won稚 have to wonder why it happened to such a nice person will you!

It amazes me how oblivious people are to how easy prey they are when somone decides to strike back!

The sad part is itç—´ just this attitude which makes it so hard for us all to simply get along with others.

My machine will hold up a car for about 5 min till I get to my turn off but allowing them to pass will only hold me back for about 45 seconds in most cases. Why should I make that person wait.?

Sounds like a fairy tale to me. I don't even lock my doors and the tractors have the keys in the ignitions almost all the time. You see, I live in rural America and the issues I have and have had with inconsiderate drivers in the past, they are all passing through, they don't live here and they don't know the law either.....

People who live around here respect the farmer's right of way and coincidentally, here in Michigan powered farm equipment has the right of way according to state law.

An automobile driver must yield to farm equipment traversing any secondary road, paved or not. Only place powered ag equipment is prohibited from is limited access highways and Interstates but, and I say but, they can be permitted to traverse a limited access highway or Intestate if..the only access to a field to be worked or harvested is via that highway but, it's by permit (issued by the State Police) only.

I believe the same applies in Ohio as well.

Consequently, you hit me and damage my tractor or equipment, you are liable for damages and you go in the pucker bush because you were stupid, it's all on you, not me. I'm 100% legal from flashing amber lights to my rotating beacon to my SMV triangle.

I'll be thinking about you when I'm roading all next week. it's hay time for me.

 

[5030]

Yeah...everybody that is in a hurry (and doesn't have the time to waste behind an inconsiderate farm hand on a tractor likely during the lunch hour or commute times etc) is just out to get a beer or a leisure ride...Right...! How do you know that person in a hurry is not late for work or a doctor or a hospice care person etc., etc. trying to get to someone in dire need??

When it comes to paybacks (they're a *****)...when you least expect it...expect it...the odds are against you that sooner or later one of your victims is going to catch up to you and put you in your place...!

One day you might just force a lawyer or anyone else who has the wherewithal to sue the **** out of you into a ditch sustaining bodily injury and end up taking that tractor and everything else you own away from...better hope you don't have any restricted meds in your system one day when complaints are filed and they make you take a blood test...!!

You sir, have an issue. What it is I don't much care but please refrain from posting combative comments. This is my thread after all and I'm not adverse to reporting you.

 

[/pine]

LoL...A "field flea"....hopping from field to field...:laughing: