In the farming communities of rural Nebraska, cars sometimes take curves too fast or fly up blind hills during harvest season. This puts them at risk of a collision with slow-moving farm machinery traveling between fields. As any insurance agent will attest, such a collision can lead to tragic consequences for all involved. To keep yourself, your vehicle, and local farm workers free from harm, below are some driver safety tips. 

How to Drive Safely in Rural Areas

1. Always Keep Your Eyes Open

Be prepared for slow-moving vehicles on rural roads in the fall. They might turn out in front of you from a field or driveway, often without warning. Be ready to slow or stop and don't crowd them.

Farm vehicles normally make wide turns, so give them plenty of room to do so safely. Don’t take your eyes off the road to send a text or answer a phone call. A harvester can appear out of nowhere and is not nimble or speedy enough to get out of your path.

2.  Pass With Care

Don't just roar past. Before you pass a farm vehicle, make sure it isn't about to turn left. Check if their blinkers or on or if the driver is using hand signals. Remember, the farm vehicle's destination may not be a road, but rather a driveway or a field to plow. Also, make sure there are no road signs, mailboxes, or other obstacles up ahead that might cause the tractor or combine to veer further into the road.

3. Be Patient

Stay calm, keep your cool, and resist the urge to do anything dangerous. Farm vehicles can be frustratingly slow, but they normally don't have to travel far—usually just to the end of a field or a nearby access point. It's much safer to stay patient and ride out the slowdown than to swing around it at speed.

Part of safer driving is maintaining adequate insurance. Contact Nebraska Crop Insurance Agency, Inc. in Beatrice, NE, for assistance. They are family-owned and have served clients in and around southeast Nebraska since 1981. They specialize in crop insurance, offering insect, drought, multi-peril, and hail insurance to satisfy the needs of many types of agribusinesses. Call them at (402) 223-2694 or visit their website to request a quote.