MACHINERY

Ag vehicles need space on the road

THE National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is urging all road users to give agricultural vehicles extra space on the road ahead of this year’s planting and harvest season.

Staff writer
 The NVHR is asking for awareness of ag machinery on the road.

The NVHR is asking for awareness of ag machinery on the road.

The call comes following National Farm Safety Week which is dedicated to raising awareness of farm safety issues in rural communities across Australia.

NHVR chief executive officer, Sal Petroccitto, said the recent increase in Australians moving to regional communities in the past year meant more traffic for agricultural vehicle drivers to safely navigate during the up-coming harvest.

"We know up to four out of five crashes involving a heavy vehicle are caused by light vehicle drivers, so it's important motorists understand how to safely share the road with heavy vehicles," Petroccitto said.

"Tractors, grain harvesters and air seeders all have limited turning ability, visibility of other vehicles, speed range and space on our roads," he said.

"If you're travelling near an agricultural vehicle, please be patient, reduce your speed, maintain a safe following distance of two seconds or more, and only overtake if it is safe to do so.

"If an oversized ag vehicle is approaching you from the opposite direction, you may need to pull over safely to let them pass.

"It's these simple tips that will help reduce risk for all road users and ensure everyone arrives safely at their destination - whether it's to the silo, stockyard or home."

For more information about sharing the road safely with heavy vehicles, visit www.weneedspace.com.au 

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Farming Ahead team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Farming Ahead team.

editions

Research Report: Sheds

Sheds play a vital role in farming, offering shelter and protection for people, machinery, livestock and valuable inputs like chemicals and fertiliser.

editions

Research Report: Harvest Weed Seed Mills

The Report includes a round up of commercially-available batching plants as well as farmer-made approaches.

editions

Research Report: Agritechnica 2023

Kondinin Group’s Mark Saunders, Ben White and Josh Giumelli went to Agritechnica, Germany. This report covers the key award winners from the event and some of the latest autonomous platforms displayed.

editions

Research Report: Fronting Up

This Research Report looks at harvester fronts including research and expertise from Kondinin Group’s Ben White, with input from harvesting specialists Brett Asphar, Kassie Van Der Westhuizen, Murray Skayman and Martin Reichelt.