Operating at Night

[maybar]

After reading a post about hi-beam lights, I was curious how many states in the U.S. it it legal to operate farm machinery at night on a public road. Is it legal or not in your state?

 

[Duffster]

It's legal here, as it should be.

 

[jbooth]

I'm sure it's legal in Kansas. If not we have a lot of lawbreakers.

 

[Thomas]

NH,not sure,older tractor w/poor lighting vehicle spotter..but towing rakes,bailers,hay wagon lights are needed.

Back forty something years ago folks seem kinda when confronting farm equipment on the road..nod,wave,how yer doing etc. etc.

 

[Transit]

Look at most auto headlights and you will notice Lenses built into the glass face. The lenses are there to focus the light and keep it from blinding oncoming traffic. Little or no such thing for tractors and the lights sit much higher from the road. :confused2:

 

[farmerjim]

i'm pretty sure its legal around my parts. at some point every summer it seems like we have to go on the road at night when this happens we usually have a vehicle following w/ 4 ways and if possible 1 in front, esp when towing an implement or hay wagon. people these days aren't very concerned about their or my safety when they approach me on any farm equipment, same thing happens at work they either don't care to slow down or aren't concerned about anyones safety. even had some lady talking on the cell hit 1 of our guys while up in an bucket truck who was way off the shoulder, thankfully he had his harness on and wasn't hurt bad only bumped up a bit but scary non the less.

 

[brin]

I'm out in rural Georgia and I never see farm equipment on the roads at night...my farm is 5 miles from my house via country roads and I would never drive my tractor to the farm after dark even though I have all lights and flashers...I think it is just too dangerous since I don't think most folks expect to see farm equipment on the roads after dark and are caught by surprise...Dangerous if you ask me...my 2 cents..

 

[Duffster]

I'm out in rural Georgia and I never see farm equipment on the roads at night...my farm is 5 miles from my house via country roads and I would never drive my tractor to the farm after dark even though I have all lights and flashers...I think it is just too dangerous since I don't think most folks expect to see farm equipment on the roads after dark and are caught by surprise...Dangerous if you ask me...my 2 cents..

I think it just the opposite when properly lighted but really it probably doesn't make any difference whether it is night or day. The typical driver is just oblivious to their surroundings.

 

[brin]

I think it just the opposite when properly lighted but really it probably doesn't make any difference whether it is night or day. The typical driver is just oblivious to their surroundings.

Good point and I agree..when I drive my tractor just the 5 miles to my farm on country roads, takes about 20 min. in the daylight hours , I experience enough crazy drivers so I am just assuming it would be even more dangerous at night...maybe I'm wrong.

 

[crusty 1]

A few weeks ago I helped a friend by moving his agco allis bailer tractor about 7 miles,flashers on as far right as I could go and got the crap scared out of me by a young lady who barely missed hitting the tractor and I was given the one finger salute to boot!I really believe a good portion of people would not pass a driver exam it it was to be re taken.Here ag eqp. has right of way and she acted as tough I was in the wrong:confused2ave

 

[crusty 1]

I forgot to say this happened about an hour before sunset,so still very light,but the point was it's not even safe any more to use the road during daylight let alone dark.Way too many toys being used when some people drive so I don't know if a tank would ease me nowDave

 

[Skyco]

Here ag eqp. has right of way

And where is "here"?

 

[crusty 1]

And where is "here"?

Minnesota

 

[Duffster]

as far right as I could go

To far to the right?

I have found if you don't use the whole lane they get the idea that they can pass without looking for oncoming traffic.

 

[D7E]

These days with the weather and small time windows to work in we do as much work at night as in the day and almost always driving machinery back home in the dark every night.
I find that the 4 way flashers confuse people as on times they can only see one corner of a big machine and mistake it for a turn signal particularly on intersections .

 

[crusty 1]

To far to the right?

I have found if you don't use the whole lane they get the idea that they can pass without looking for oncoming traffic.

Duffster,I gave up tring to figure out what goes through the minds of some who use the roads,seems some will pass on curves or hills.Too many are in a big hurry and take too many chances all while texting or putting on makeup or any number of things that souldn't be done while driving.I,ve seen people with a book proped open on steering wheels!We can,t figure for them,just hope it's not us that becomes one of thier victumsDave

 

[deere755]

We try not to move at night if possible, but some times we have to. When this happens we try to have a pickup follow us with flashers going also. I try to plan to get everything moved before dark but it doesn't always work that way. You can try and plan your day out so that you are all ready moved to a field by dark that you can work in for the rest of the evening until quiting time but sometimes we have a breakdown or a fertlizer truck is late getting to the field so you have to wait. I would say when moving at night try to stay off of busy highways and stick the rural roads as much as possible. That is sometimes a problem for us because the only way around the lake is on the the highways.

 

[gwjd]

if i was outfitting a tractor for night moves i would get some led strobes and just be mindful of the situation i prefer driving my car at night in some situations you can see lights in your blind spots or shall i say coming from your blind spot