The Wood County Sheriff's Office is advising drivers to be careful as harvest season increases farm traffic on rural northwest Ohio roads.
Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn said tractors, combines, and crop and grain haulers are using those routes. According to the sheriff, these vehicles travel slowly and drivers may not see them until they are close, which can prompt dangerous passing attempts.
Wasylyshyn noted that tractors can pull several wagons at once, meaning a pass on a country road may require covering a long distance. He also said combine heads can be wider than 20 feet and take up more than one lane. Crops standing several feet high can obscure views at intersections, he added.
Drivers should pull fully up to an intersection, stop completely, and check for traffic before proceeding, he said.
The sheriff said safety is a shared responsibility. He asked motorists and farmers to be patient and suggested that operators with a long line of vehicles behind them pull off the road.
Because sunset arrives earlier and harvest may extend through December, officials say caution from both drivers and equipment operators is essential.