Stay safe this harvest season

Harvest work will soon be in full swing, which means local roads and highways will see increased farm traffic. Lacombe County reminds travellers to keep safety at the forefront during fall harvest operations, whether you’re driving a van, pulling a camping trailer, or behind the wheel of a combine or semi-truck.

Road safety is a major concern during harvest season. Slow-moving farm equipment will be on roads already busy with summer travellers and commuters alike, increasing the need for everyone to drive safely and considerately.

Back to school season is around the corner, and road courtesy is important no matter where you are driving. We ask everyone to practice patience on local roads – whether you’re driving in Lacombe County or elsewhere in Alberta. The fact is large, slow-moving equipment utilizes County roads in harvest season – which lasts for a number of weeks each year (depending on the year and weather conditions). Drivers need to plan and incorporate extra time into their schedules to compensate for potential delays caused by harvest operations.

During harvest season we ask both agricultural producers, travellers and day-to-day drivers using County roads to stay alert, stay patient and stay safe!

Harvest Safety Tips (from Alberta Agriculture & Forestry)

• Ensure safe transport of equipment on public roadways.
• Be aware of motorists.
• Follow all rules of the road.
• Ensure all lights and reflectors are in place and in good working order. A slow-moving vehicle emblem
• should be in place and visible from the rear.
• Return equipment to transport mode to make it as narrow as possible.
• Check your route before transport to ensure equipment fits safely under power lines and over bridges or culverts that need to be crossed.