Inconsiderate drivers and tractor operators, bad mix...

[Industrial Toys]

Maybe he also drives a school bus, as many farmers do. They USED to pull over, but something has changed in policy I guess, and no longer do.

 

[ovrszd]

Maybe he also drives a school bus, as many farmers do. They USED to pull over, but something has changed in policy I guess, and no longer do.

Maybe in Canada? Or maybe just "My" farmers?

 

[CobyRupert]

This discussion is similar to ones that bicyclists have. In the end, bikes have as much right to the traffic lane; as the 15mph tractor, as the motorist in the car.
If the bike or the tractor CHOOSES to pull over, or share the road, that’s up to them.
Like a lot of things in life, how you balance your rights with empathy for others might determine if you share the lane, let others by, or just roll along at 15mph and never look back.

 

[/pine]

I guess I am an inconsiderate tractor operator because I do not pull over for cars. I have as much right to use the roadway as they do, so when THEY FEEL they are in a safe spot to go around me, they can. I was always told, if you pull over for every car you never get to where you are going, and if you wave them by, and they get in an accident, you can be held liable, so make the decision entirely theirs's. If they cannot wait for a safe spot to pass, it is all on them.

I have stopped a few cars when they were bout to do something really stupid, but for the most part, my little flashing orange light is enough to let cars know, I am mowing the road ditches...pass at own risk.

Another word for inconsiderate is selfish... Some states have laws stating ANY vehicle holding up more than a few (differs) cars must pull over and let them by...

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...

 

[ovrszd]

Another word for inconsiderate is selfish... Some states have laws stating ANY vehicle holding up more than a few (differs) cars must pull over and let them by...

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...

Someone earlier posted their State's law regarding this, can't remember what State it was? I sent my State Rep and email to get Missouri's law but haven't gotten a response.

 

[K5lwq]

I mow 1/4 mile of State hiway road ditch. I stop when I see a vehicle coming so I don't risk throwing trash at them. I make four passes on this roadbank/ditch. I'll have to stop 5 or 6 times depending on time of day. No big deal. Oh,,, I wave at each vehicle also. 95% wave back.

I wave at people all the time and here 10% wave back.

I am never in a hurry driving, if you drive right and time things generally I get there faster. The other day some young buck whizzed by me and gave me the single finger wave. He was stopped by a red light so I rolled the window down and said "Excuse me, excuse please." He rolled his window down and I said "could you please tell me what this means?" Showing him the same finger.

He said "you really don't know what that means?" I said "No Sir." He said "It means you drive good you old fart you!" :laughing:

 

[Diggin It]

I guess I am an inconsiderate tractor operator because I do not pull over for cars. I have as much right to use the roadway as they do, so when THEY FEEL they are in a safe spot to go around me, they can. I was always told, if you pull over for every car you never get to where you are going, and if you wave them by, and they get in an accident, you can be held liable, so make the decision entirely theirs's. If they cannot wait for a safe spot to pass, it is all on them.

Drive tractors on the shoulder of paved highways, if possible. Do not drive with the tractor and machinery over part of the shoulder and part of the paved lane. If it is not possible to drive on the shoulder, drive on the paved lane. Do not force a line of cars or trucks to stay behind a slow-moving tractor or machinery. If a suitable shoulder is available, pull over to permit traffic to pass.

Bulletin #231, Maine Farm Safety Program: Driving Farm Machinery Safely - Cooperative Extension Publications - University of Maine Cooperative Extension

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^^
What you and several others seem to miss is that BT is mowing the side of the road...

This discussion is similar to ones that bicyclists have. In the end, bikes have as much right to the traffic lane; as the 15mph tractor, as the motorist in the car.
If the bike or the tractor CHOOSES to pull over, or share the road, that痴 up to them.
Like a lot of things in life, how you balance your rights with empathy for others might determine if you share the lane, let others by, or just roll along at 15mph and never look back.

Your entire comment could be condensed into one word; Courtesy. Courtesy on the part of the motorists, who need to slow down when they can't safely pass a slower user; and also on the part of the bicyclist or tractor driver, who is travelling much slower than the speed of traffic and pulls into a safe spot when he can let motorists safely pass. Oftentimes it isn't even an inconvenience, especially for the guy peddling a bicycle.

It's been over 45 years since taking driver's ed yet I still remember the instructor saying that traffic laws are merely enforced courtesy.

I also still pick up a law book every couple of years to review... that way I know what everybody else is doing wrong.

 

[5030]

Another word for inconsiderate is selfish... Some states have laws stating ANY vehicle holding up more than a few (differs) cars must pull over and let them by...

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...

To a point. That point is, I'm bigger and heavier than the average 4 wheeler so they get to wait until I can pull off (where there is room) and there ain't none on a 2 lane country road for the most part. Size matters in this case....:laughing:

 

[5030]

Someone earlier posted their State's law regarding this, can't remember what State it was? I sent my State Rep and email to get Missouri's law but haven't gotten a response.

Don't you run a road grader Richard? You pull that off the right of way when you can right? I seem to remember you posting a picture of a really nice Caterpillar grader that made me envious.

 

[3Ts]

In Texas, I took a course from the AgriLife folks on tractor safety. One of the things they pointed out is that there is NO requirement (in Texas) to pull over to let vehicles pass and went so far as to recommend not to do so. The reason is that you don't know the condition of the shoulder and could cause an accident thru rollover.

 

[Hay Dude]

I talk to "My" farmers all the time and those having work done at friends. Usually just listen to the latter complain. Too dry, too wet, too early, too late. I think BK is hiring, maybe that would be better.

Another ignorant comment.
Put a group of your truckers together and theyd complain about cops, DOT stops & passenger car drivers.
Put a group of football coaches together and they complain about referees, annoying parents & lazy players.
Put a group of carpenters together and they complain about low quality lumber, bowed studs and jammed nail guns.

Its not complaining, its human nature. Its therapy for groups of people who all do the same thing for a living.

And let me tell you something else industrial toys. You better get it through your head that farming is very difficult, dangerous, requires a lot of skill and intelligence. To lump farmers in with people who work at BK is a real insult to farmers. I can tell by your comments you wouldnt last a few days. What a despicable comment.

 

[Hay Dude]

You forgot the smiley face cause you gotta be kidding...... :confused3:

Keep giving them more & more rope and eventually theyll hang themself.
Probably wonders why all farmers dont own & operate a Chinook helicopter to airlift their equipment between fields....
Ooops, got to go! Gotta call in my industrial toys road permit for the trip between 2 of my 23 hayfields. Im driving a tractor between them and I might inconvenience someone going to get a latte!!!!!

 

[Hay Dude]

I had the pleasure of getting behind a tractor today, it was a 2240 John Deere with a 3 point hay rake. He had over a dozen vehicles lined up behind him and never once looked back. He had multiple places he could have pulled over for just a minute to allow traffic to flow. Neither side of this debate has the market cornered on being inconsiderate.

Id say thats as inconsiderate as bicyclists and joggers who wont get out of the way of cars.
On a 2 lane road, you might just be causing a head on collision! People like industrial toys in cars get VERY angry because farmers dont drive tractors 50MPH (or are allowed on the road AT ALL), so if I pull onto the shoulder, which isnt wide enough for oversized farm equipment, it invites passing without enough room in the oncoming lane. So then the farmer would be accused of causing an accident. Im sure folks of his ilk would be the first to blame the farmer now that we know how he really feels about farmers (We should be working at BK instead).

 

[RandyT]

I wasn't disputing you... I would be one of those you are cursing.
People from other states complain that we don't know how to merge onto an interstate. Our onramp signs are "Yield", not "Merge".

And in my state as of this year the "Zipper" method become state law. There has been a law in the books for years that amounted to a modified zipper method for interstate on ramps for years written in such a way that almost gives on ramps right of way.

 

[Richard]

Indiana has a slowpoke law for farm equipment. If they are holding up 3 cars or more, they have to pull over at the first safe place possible and let traffic pass. Some don't abide by the law, but most do.

I think that''s just simple courtesy which we could all use. I try to move over if a single person is behind me (unless perhaps I'm heading into a turn or situation where it's blind)

As much as I'm for simple courtesy.....I can still be a bit of a prick. I live on a small, dead end road. Only 5 houses here so everyone knows everyone. On a lake with some public property so we get outside visitors here. Road is about 12' wide. I drove a Miata for a dozen years and going down the road, someone (non-local) would be coming down the middle of the road in their truck....forcing me to pull off into the ditch. In some areas, the ditch doesn't exist and it's actually an embankment to the water. They usually don't slow down very much either.

General thought seems to be size makes right....so the little guy (me in the Miata) has to bow to the larger trucks.

Well.... our property borders about 30% of the length of this road. When I'm out in my industrial backhoe with an 8' wide bucket, there is no room for two to pass at same time. Interestingly, when one of these punk drivers comes down the road, they are in the middle of road again and now we have an impasse.... I just stop. They stop as they are expecting me to move over for them.

What they don't understand is I'm tired of their attitude and now, I'm in the bigger machine.... so I just sit. I'm essentially at home so I have allllllllllll day to sit. We sit & stare for a minute before it finally sinks in their thick skulls that I'm not moving and they can't get past me.... and I force them to backup however far they need to backup to turn around.

(since it's a dead end road and I live at the end, they have no real reason to continue further.... so I know they're just out exploring)

I would have never copped that kind of attitude had I not spent 10 years or so being pushed around and off the pavement by them. Now, I'm happy to play their stupid game because I win.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I detest any tribal and protectionist thinking. Always have. It's a very Ego Based, primitive way of thinking.

 

[3930dave]

I would have never copped that kind of attitude had I not spent 10 years or so being pushed around and off the pavement by them. Now, I'm happy to play their stupid game because I win.

One saying I've learned to appreciate...

Choose your enemies well, for it is them you will become most alike.....

Human nature can make living in the middle of King Ranch look good.....

Rgds, D.

 

[paulfun9]

I think that''s just simple courtesy which we could all use. I try to move over if a single person is behind me (unless perhaps I'm heading into a turn or situation where it's blind)

As much as I'm for simple courtesy.....I can still be a bit of a prick. I live on a small, dead end road. Only 5 houses here so everyone knows everyone. On a lake with some public property so we get outside visitors here. Road is about 12' wide. I drove a Miata for a dozen years and going down the road, someone (non-local) would be coming down the middle of the road in their truck....forcing me to pull off into the ditch. In some areas, the ditch doesn't exist and it's actually an embankment to the water. They usually don't slow down very much either.

General thought seems to be size makes right....so the little guy (me in the Miata) has to bow to the larger trucks.

Well.... our property borders about 30% of the length of this road. When I'm out in my industrial backhoe with an 8' wide bucket, there is no room for two to pass at same time. Interestingly, when one of these punk drivers comes down the road, they are in the middle of road again and now we have an impasse.... I just stop. They stop as they are expecting me to move over for them.

What they don't understand is I'm tired of their attitude and now, I'm in the bigger machine.... so I just sit. I'm essentially at home so I have allllllllllll day to sit. We sit & stare for a minute before it finally sinks in their thick skulls that I'm not moving and they can't get past me.... and I force them to backup however far they need to backup to turn around.

(since it's a dead end road and I live at the end, they have no real reason to continue further.... so I know they're just out exploring)

I would have never copped that kind of attitude had I not spent 10 years or so being pushed around and off the pavement by them. Now, I'm happy to play their stupid game because I win.

This. I find just a little amusing.

One of the roads boardering my property goes to our ballfield and I see the bigger wins attitude a lot when I am out working that field.
What I find most interesting is that the guy with the smallest car won’t move, wait for anyone he just stays on his side of the road and honestly doesn’t seem to care if they hit him. I think his car is called a Yaris but it’s small compared to all the trucks and SUV’s we have come to expect around here.
Anyway to date that I know of he has ditched 4 trucks, 1 van and one 4 wheeler down there. He simply refuses to move to the side and as they get real close and realize he ain’t moving they panick and overshoot the road which gets one tire into the ditch.
This is then followed by the owner of the house on the end of the road coming down and giving the stuck driver a hard time for drivng way too fast past the houses to begin with (posted speed limit is15) I know he has also charged a couple excessive amounts to pull them out after he is done giving the tounge lashing. My neighbors boys came here looking for a tow when they got ditched and told me how much he wanted to pull them out. I let them sit there till thier father came home from work and then offered free towing to him only after the boys were reprimanded for blatantly speeding down the road to begin with!
Thier dad made them clear some overgrown bushes and a couple fallen dead trees on the boarder of our property as payment for the tow out of the ditch and never told them it was free!

Anyway, I wonder what would happen if you stayed your course as they realized they were going to hit you?

 

[ovrszd]

Don't you run a road grader Richard? You pull that off the right of way when you can right? I seem to remember you posting a picture of a really nice Caterpillar grader that made me envious.

Yep, I run a grader. I am constantly glancing in my mirrors when working. I get out of the way when I see traffic. Sometimes traffic isn't so courteous. Several times over the years I've been plowing snow, trying to bust thru deep drifts, hit it, stop and back up, hit it again. Glance in the mirror to back up and a car is in the trough with me sitting ten feet behind me..... Where do they think they are going???? :confused3:

My grader runs 29mph. I will slow and take the shoulder to let someone pass if I'm in an area where they'll have to follow me very far for a clear spot. If I am in a good passing spot or one is coming up in the next half mile I keep moving. I've had people follow me at a distance for a couple miles because they don't want to disrupt me and aren't in a hurry.

I run a Deere. It's a year old, 255HP, all wheel drive. I'm pretty spoiled. Push snow in a T-shirt listening to XM Radio.