Keeping you safe — on and off the farm Slow moving vehicle signs available free for Wisconsin farmers
To raise safety awareness and potentially save lives, Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) signs are being distributed to farmers free of charge through an expanded partnership involving Marshfield Clinic Research Institute’s National Farm Medicine Center, Rural Mutual Insurance Co., H& S Manufacturing, and Nasonville Dairy.
As our farmers take to the roads with their vehicles and equipment this time of year, motorists must be aware of their presence to ensure everyone’s safety. Please use caution when traveling near county farmland so everyone can ‘Share the Road’ together.
When motorists encounter a slow-moving vehicle on the roadway they should:
•Slow down immediately
•Increase following distance to create a safety cushion
•Be alert and watch for unexpected turns
•Pass with care only when it is safe and legal to do so
•Be aware that animal-powered vehicles may make unanticipated movements
•Be aware that equipment in tow may sway on the road
•Remember slow-moving vehicle operators may have poor visibility due to loads and equipment in tow Operators of the farm tractors & equipment should be aware that the slow-moving vehicle triangle should be placed in the center of the back end of the vehicle, located two to six feet above the road, and kept clean and replaced when faded. Each piece of agricultural equipment, whether self-propelled or used in combination, must separately display the required emblems. It is illegal to put slow-moving vehicle emblems on stationary objects – such as mailboxes or driveway posts.
Under state law, self-propelled agricultural equipment can be used on public roads after dark and when visibility is less than 1,000 feet when it has two white headlamps, one red taillight on the rear as far left as possible and two amber lamps at least 42 inches high and visible from the front and rear.
Vehicles drawn by animals (horse & buggy) must display on the rear either a slow-moving vehicle triangle or a lighted lantern with a red lens at least four inches in diameter, with the center of the lens to be 42 inches above the ground, the lantern to be near the left edge of the vehicle. The vehicle also should have 72 square inches of a high quality white or whitish-gray reflective tape. Slow Moving Signs can be picked up at the following locations.
Taylor County Sheriff’s Office 224 S 2nd St Medford WI 54451 715-748-2200 Taylor County Emergency Management Office 224 S 2nd St Medford WI 54451 715-748-3503 Gilman Rural Fire Department 315 E Mc Sloy St. Gilman WI 54433 715-314-0681 Rib Lake Fire Department 654 Mc Comb Ave Rib Lake WI, 54470 715-427-5281
