Safety reminder ahead of harvest

GRAIN Producers SA is reminding motorists to be aware of the additional heavy vehicles on the road during the coming months as harvest ramps up.

“The prospect of high grain production volumes throughout South Australia means more heavy vehicle traffic on our country roads, so road safety must be at the forefront,” CEO Brad Perry said.

“Motorists are urged to be patient and exercise caution when interacting with the thousands of extra heavy vehicles on the road over harvest.”

Mr Perry said the wet weather also provided additional challenges for all motorists to be aware of during harvest.

“In many areas on farm, the ground is sodden, so for the grain producers and carriers it’s important to have a level access point at paddock entry or loading for heavy vehicle accessibility and safety in all weather conditions,” he said.

“With such a wet start, harvest in South Australia will continue throughout the festive holiday season, so for those travelling during this period it’s important to plan your trips ahead, drive to the conditions and ensure it is completely safe before overtaking trucks and large agricultural vehicles.

“For heavy vehicle operators, this is also a timely reminder to make sure heavy vehicles are correctly registered or permitted and are properly checked before use.

“Whether it’s a farm-owned heavy vehicle or grain producers using contractors to cart grain, the message from us is clear: take your time to ensure you’ve considered any risks and put appropriate steps in place to make your harvest operations safe.”