What kind of driver are you? Are you cautious and courteous or a speed demon who won’t slow down for anything? Here is a side-view mirror reflection of what I have seen the last month on the roads around my farm in Southern Will County while driving a combine or a truck loaded with hay, straw, or wheat from the field to the farm. Keep in mind, top speed for most farm equipment is 18-20 mph.
There is patient Patty. Patty will follow you 150’ feet back, which may impede all the others who try to pass. She means no harm and is content to admire the fields and my equipment with no concern for being delayed. And there is trucker. When he gets behind you he turns his flashers on. This is a rarity today; it was common of truckers 40 years ago.
But then there is also arrogant Aaron. He will pass you instantly and aggressively, even if there is a solid yellow line or oncoming traffic. Aaron will pass you and make everyone else take evasive action to avoid a collision if necessary. I would estimate that about 1/3rd of the time I travel more than 3 miles I will encounter this incident at least once. I have yet to witness a head-on collision, thankfully; I have seen middle finger salutes, arms flailing out windows and horns honking with expletives yelled at Aaron.
There is a subtle difference between arrogant Aaron and the NASCAR wannabee. The wannabee will approach the line of cars following me with great speed and slingshot past all of us and swing in front of me like they have just received the checkered flag. Sometimes the passing vehicle will cut back into the lane so quickly I fear they will clip my front tire. They say rubbing is racing; at 19 mph, this is a race I will never win!
Here is another example; I cannot believe how often it happens. A vehicle will follow for a long time. They will not pass when safe or legal. They seem content, but eventually, they cannot take another second at such a slow speed. They almost always inevitably decide it is time to pass on a curve or hill posted as a no passing zone or at an intersection. After following for miles and having plenty of safe and legal opportunities to pass they seem to choose the most dangerous spot to overtake me.
Do not feel bad if you think I have singled you out or wrongfully used your name fictitiously. In the last month I have also been passed in no passing zones by a school bus, police car and ambulance not responding to calls. I have recently read about the police becoming more aggressive about speed enforcement to make our highways safer. Perhaps they should assign the officers a tractor or combine to see how reckless the roads can really be.
Maybe one day, after an accident, (I feel my luck will run out soon) I will be “outstanding” along the road waiting for the police and tow services; that is if I am lucky enough not to need an ambulance. It has been a long time since I can recall an accident involving agriculture resulting in a death in our area. Some might say we are overdue. I implore all those on the roads, “let’s prove them wrong and do better than I have recently witnessed.”
0 Comments