Stay Informed

Road safety is something farmers need to keep in mind during the planting season, but one of the less obvious aspects of road safety might be safety at intersections.

“When you’re driving, make sure you can see and that you’re being seen,” said John Nagle, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance farm training specialist.

Farmers can make this much easier by not planting corn close to an intersection, or by cutting down their corn so the plants don’t obstruct drivers’ line of sight.

Many farmers already do this, noted Nagle and Jon Sparks, Indiana Farm Bureau District 6 director.

“We see that in our county,” said Sparks, who lives in Hancock County. He added that he looks at it as another way of being a good neighbor.

There have been accidents and near-misses in the state, he said.

“My family drives those roads, and I want them safe too,” he pointed out.

“We know a great many of our farmers do this – provide safer intersections by removing or reducing obstructions,” Nagle added. “It’s safer for them, their family or anybody that’s using the county roads.”

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INFB offers a toolkit to help county Farm Bureaus promote rural road safety. You can find it at www.infb.org/toolkits. The toolkit includes templates for press releases, print ads, radio PSAs, social media posts, and information on how to order banners and yard signs.