Farmers: Stay Visible, Stay Safe
When you’re a farmer heading out to the field, you have a million things to think about. The price of seed, when to apply herbicide and pesticide, the condition of your equipment and the ground — to name just a few. So much to think about, in fact, that when you head out to the fields, you may not be paying attention to one of the most fundamental considerations: can anyone see you?
An analysis of farm vehicle crash data from 320,000 roads in the state of Iowa found the chances of an accident involving farm equipment increased on roads with high-speed limits, dense traffic patterns, and small, narrow lanes that lack shoulders you can use. It’s best for farmers to avoid such roadways, but sometimes you don’t have a choice.
The same study also analyzed data from five years of records on over 7,000 farm vehicle accidents in nine Midwestern states. It suggests that farmers can reduce the danger by complying with vehicle lighting and marking guidelines from the American Society for Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE).
The ASABE standards provide placement and visibility standards for all tractors or other self-propelled or towed farm machines. According to a summary of the standard, “Proper lighting and marking are essential to the safety of both operators and other drivers.”
Lighting
Lighting covered in the standards includes:
- Headlamps
- Work lamps
- General service lamps (such as cab and marker lights)
- Tail lamps
- Warning lamps
- Turn indicators
The ASABE standards also state that “any towing vehicle [must be] equipped with a seven-terminal plug to accommodate lighting connections for any non-self-propelled equipment or trailing unit."
Reflectors
Tractors and other self-propelled vehicles should be equipped with triangular slow-moving vehicle signage, non-illuminated rear reflectors, and reflective tape. The more visibility the better. If your machinery doesn’t already have sufficient reflectors, a wide variety of after-market upgrades are readily available and easy to add. There are very specific requirements regarding the placement, color, and composition of these markers, and requirements vary from vehicle to vehicle and state to state. You should familiarize yourself thoroughly with your state’s requirements to be sure your vehicles conform before you leave the machine shed.
Whether you’re talking about towing or towed vehicles, or about illuminated fixtures or reflectors, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has a downloadable illustrated guide, “Lighting and Marking of Agricultural Equipment on Highways,” that will take you through the process of making your equipment visible.
Seeing as well as being seen
As you think through what you need to do to ensure that other drivers see you, it’s also important to consider what you might need to do to see them. Most tractors or combines are equipped with mirrors, but demanding environments and unusual equipment configurations can limit visibility and create blind spots. It might be prudent to consider adding more strategically placed mirrors or backup cameras to your equipment.
And don’t forget …
Finally, you need to be sure other drivers on those narrow back roads can see you, as well as your vehicle. When you head out to the fields, remember to take along your personal reflective gear. There’s a wide variety of vests, shells, belts, and harnesses to ensure that you’re seen.
Sources: farmersadvance.com; activegearreviews.com
The information included here was obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company, SI, and its employees make no guarantee of results and assume no liability in connection with any training, materials, suggestions, or information provided. It is the user’s responsibility to confirm compliance with any applicable local, state, or federal regulations. Information obtained from or via Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company, SI, should not be used as the basis for legal advice and should be confirmed with alternative sources.
1/2026