Now that the snow and ice is off the roads, there's a different hazard to look out for, especially in Okotoks.

Farmers and ranchers in and around our community drive their equipment on the highways, sometimes causing traffic backups.

Manager of Novice Operations for AMA Education Rick Lang says accidents involving farming implements on roads are very common.

"It's really interesting because today's farming equipment is larger and larger than it was yesterday, and yet people still run into the back end of it. Farm equipment moves very very slowly, it's difficult for drivers coming up from behind them to estimate the speed they're moving at and the distance."

Lang explains passing farm equipment becomes very difficult on a rural or secondary highway.

"A lot of time the farming implement will take up a good portion of the roadway and is moving slowly, a lot of drivers get impatient and want to pass the vehicle. The first problem you have to worry about it visibility, number two a lot of times when a farm vehicle is going to make a left hand turn they swing a little to the right to give them a little more room, especially if they have a large implement being towed behind a tractor. A lot of drivers think this means they're moving over so they can pass, but check again."

Anyone driving farming equipment has responsibilities along with everyday drivers.

"Obviously keeping their lights, taillights, and slow moving vehicle signs as clean and observable as possible. The other thing is to drive in a sensible manner, don't make any sudden moves when they are exciting from a farm yard or field, take a look in both directions and give vehicles more room. As with car drivers, farmers should drive as to be predictable, signal their intentions, if they don't have signal lights, they should use hand signals."

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