RUBIX:
"Great drivers always follow these principles!"
SPOT™ Method: Farm Equipment Passing
🌾🌾 Enumclaw Valley Farm Roads - Harvest Season
📍 AGRICULTURAL AREA: Enumclaw Valley has over 200 working farms. During harvest season (Aug-Oct), SR-164, 284th Ave SE, and 400th St SE see heavy farm equipment traffic. Tractors, combines, and hay wagons travel 15-25 mph between fields. Equipment can be 12+ feet wide, taking up entire lanes. Mud and debris on roads are common hazards near field entrances.
🚗 Your Driving Scenario
• Location: SR-169 near Enumclaw during harvest season
• Traffic: A tractor pulling a hay wagon is ahead, traveling 20 mph in a 55 mph zone
• Road Markings: Broken yellow center line (passing zone)
• Visibility: No oncoming traffic is visible for at least 1/3 mile
• Conditions: Clear, dry day with good visibility
🎯 What should you do? (Select the SAFEST option)
💡 Why Farm Equipment Safety Matters
Legal Rights: Farm equipment has full legal right to use public roads (RCW 46.61.170). Farmers are doing essential work feeding our communities.
Equipment Limitations: Tractors have massive blind spots (30+ feet), limited braking ability, and cannot easily pull over on narrow rural roads.
Passing Safely: When passing IS appropriate, ensure broken yellow line, 1/3 mile clear visibility, no oncoming traffic, and watch for field driveways where equipment may turn.
Patience Pays: Most farm equipment travels less than 1 mile on main roads before turning into fields. A few minutes of patience shows respect and keeps everyone safe.
🚜 Share The Road - Farmers Feed America!
Farm equipment has the right to use public roads