As farmers are preparing their fields for seeding and planting, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office wants to remind motorists to practice safe driving habits, while heavy farm equipment is on the roadways. 

Sheriff Adam Infante says that a motorist should slow down and be careful when approaching farm machinery on the road. Infante advises motorists to give a farm vehicle plenty of space when passing and only should consider passing in a passing zone, when the center-line is dotted. Infante talks about the instances they run into from people not obeying the passing zones on the road. 

“Unfortunately, these accidents happen every year. You know, a farm vehicle will turn left into a field while somebody is trying to pass them or somebody will run into oncoming traffic as they’re passing (farm machinery). But if you recall, just this early spring/late winter, we had a farm accident out here on Highway 6 near the sheriff’s office, which resulted in a fatality. So just be real careful out there. It can happen anywhere.”

Infante explains that no-passing zones are specifically chosen by the county engineer because they are considered low visibility areas of oncoming traffic. He adds most of the time farm machinery cannot see a motorist when they are passing them.