GREY BRUCE — An increasing number of farmers are operating from more than one site, which increases the amount of time that farm vehicles are on the road. The Grey Bruce Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) would like to offer farmers some safety tips and laws surrounding operating tractors on the highway:
· You do not need a driver’s licence to operator a farm tractor or self-propelled implement of husbandry.
· You must be at least 16 years old to drive farm machinery on the highway.
· Operators less than 16-years-old can only drive farm vehicles and machinery directly across the highway.
· It is illegal to operate any farm equipment, on or off highway, while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
· If your driver’s licence has been suspended by an impaired driving conviction, you cannot drive farm machinery on a highway.
· You should drive on the travelled portion of the highway as the shoulder may not be able to support the weight of your farm equipment.
· You shall yield half the roadway to oncoming vehicles.
· You shall have headlights and taillights on between sunset and sunrise or when the weather is unfavourable.
· When towing implements, the rear-most unit must have at least 1 red taillight. Farm vehicles or towed equipment over 2.6 metres wide must have 2 taillights.
· You shall display a slow-moving vehicle sign at the rear of the farm machinery or item that is being towed.
· When displaying a slow-moving vehicle sign, your speeds cannot exceed 40 km/hr.
· Farm wagons and implements drawn behind a farm tractor, pickup truck or any other vehicle must have two separate means of attachment.
· Flood lights and general service lights are useful for field work. They must not be used when operating on a highway
LEARN MORE
Farm Implements on the Road – Ontario Federation of Agriculture
