Harvest season in Illinois is associated with accidents due to heavy farm equipment on rural roads, which causes collisions with motor vehicles, and grain-related incidents like bin entrapments and fires. Motorists are urged to slow down, be patient, and stay alert for slow-moving equipment, while farmers should ensure their equipment has proper lighting, rollover protection, and take safety precautions when working in grain bins. United Superintendent Tom Hawkins says he wants to remind students driving to and from events to slow down and watch out:
“It is that time of the year. We have ag equipment that is at intersections crossing over, slow moving vehicles, large equipment going down the roadways. Please talk to your student drivers about their speed, about understanding that ag vehicles take up a lot of space and move slowly. Also, just overall safe driving for our students because we have a lot currently right now until fields start to get opened up, we have a lot of blocked intersections.”