• What should you do when driving a farm tractor on a road?
• What should you avoid doing?

What should you do when driving a farm tractor on a road?

• Choose routes with care. Avoid busy routes. Avoid routes with narrow roads and restricted distance visibility.
• Use an escort vehicle if you must travel busy routes or if you have obscured visibility.
• Lock brake pedals together for even operation.
• Obey all traffic laws.
• Adjust travel speed to road conditions and towed equipment.
• Occupy the entire traffic lane. Do not straddle one-half of the lane and the shoulder--it confuses other drivers.
• Slow down and pull over to let traffic pass if safe to do so. Choose a level location with good visibility in both directions.
• Use the throttle rather than the brakes to slow down if towing one or more pieces of machinery on a highway to avoid jack-knifing equipment.
• Descend a hill in the same gear you would use to ascend when carrying a load.
• Stay off the roads after dark unless necessary and then only when equipment is properly lit (white light(s) in front; red light at rear).
• Always signal your plan to slow, stop or turn.
• Use hand signals if your tractor does not have signal lights.
• Equip your vehicle with signals if load or equipment does not allow other drivers to see hand signals.
• Ensure that there is enough room to maneuver safely before entering or crossing a road, or turning across a lane.
• Keep signs and lights clean.
• Ensure that tractor and towed equipment are equipped with SMV (Slow-Moving Vehicle) signs and be sure it is clearly visible.

• Replace faded or damaged Slow-Moving Vehicle signs.
• Indicate size of equipment with flags during the day and with lights at night.

What should you avoid doing?

• Do not allow riders on tractor or towed equipment.
• Do not take equipment out of gear to "freewheel" downhill. The resulting speed could cause severe steering and braking problems. Tractors are not designed for downshifting gears while moving.
• Do not drive on the shoulder of the road.

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Document confirmed current on August 2, 2012

Document last updated on March 6, 2002

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