FARM SAFETY
Making the Safe Move
The transport of farm equipment on Manitoba
highways is everyone’s responsibility
BY RICHARD KAMCHEN
Farm equipment operators and motorists both
have a role to play in keeping rural Mani-toba
highways and roads safe during the
growing season.
In 2019, Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI)
reported an annual average of nearly 40 colli-sions
involving agricultural equipment and passenger vehi-cles,
double its 2018 stated average.
“There was a significant increase in collisions,” said MPI
spokesman Brian Smiley.
He suspects the two-fold increase partly reflects
increased traffic volumes.
Agricultural vehicles are indeed spending more
time on the road, according to KAP’s Manitoba Farm
Safety Program (FSP).
“Producers now travel further as farmland has become
more spread out, and with producers farming more acres
overall, combines and grain trucks are travelling greater dis-tances
on public roads,” FSP said.
In addition, more of the drivers have less experience.
The KAP-hosted program pointed out farmers have been
forced to hire non-family workers because fewer people
are growing up on farms, and that many who did choose
off-farm careers. >>
Photo courtesy of KAP
Manitoba Farmers’ Voice § Summer 2020 § 23