people do things for a reason, but why

SDE · Aug 30, 2017

JD tractor pulling an implement, mostly on the right shoulder ,but using about a third of the right lane of a state highway. I slow down and stay behind him due to oncoming traffic. Then I notice that he is slowing down. This could only mean that he is going to make a left turn at this intersection. Traffic clears and he stops so that I can go around him and then after I get past he turns left, from the right shoulder. Doesn't make any sense to me why he did it this way. I don't get it.
SDE

markct · Aug 30, 2017

Especially on older tractors with no turn signals I often pull over and let cars pass before turning left, too often people decide to try and pass you as soon as you slow down and they don't realize your turning so it could be dangerous

sammydwm · Aug 30, 2017

No turn signal? Arm broke?

Bob Bancroft · Aug 30, 2017

I have several machines with flashing lights, and turn signals. The turn signals are ignored. I can have the left turn signal on and be about ready to turn when someone goes ripping by me. So, it's either wait until every one else clears, or slowly work into the middle of the road, attempting to block any passing, before turning left. So, I would say the driver of the JD tractor, like me, has decided he can't trust any driver, so is being extra cautious out of self defense.

markct · Aug 30, 2017

No one understands hand signals, I know
of two local incidents where a left turn
hand signal was misinterpreted as waving
to pass and caused an accident

2underage · Aug 30, 2017

Arm broke? I doubt that you have spent much time on a tractor with a big implement hooked behind it or in a tractor cab with windows that do not open to put your hand out. With a big implement behind the tractor it is difficult for an operator of a vehicle to see the tractor much less someone's hand signals.

Mike M · Aug 30, 2017

I almost did that once. It sure looked like he was flailing his arm around to wave me on by but he was actually turning left.

Greg K · Aug 30, 2017

He probably had a bad experience and learned from it. I, knowing better, passed a sprayer one day and with all the flashing lights missed the one that was a left turn signal. Turns out the vehicle behind me did the same thing. It's my pet peeve, with the size of today's equipment I don't need 10 flashing lights to see its there, give them 1 strobe for night and side clearance lights .

NY 986 · Aug 30, 2017

Exactly. Just other day I had three vehicles pass me on a blind hill with oncoming traffic. I would have liked to use the shoulder more but it was light sand with me pulling a heavy load. Further, the shoulder was graded significantly downward. Anymore, I always assume the worst with people.

Traditional Farmer · Aug 30, 2017

If I have vehicles behind me and can see ahead I go over to the left side before turning left that way no chance they're coming around on my left.Also a trooper told me when traveling down the road use the whole lane to travel in don't get part way off the road.

ss55 · Aug 30, 2017

Waving traffic around and waiting for traffic to clear before making left hand turns is probably the safest way to move equipment, even if it is often confusing. There is no standard procedure for operating equipment on the roads, so there is nothing to educate equipment operators or the driving public.

People rarely take the time to clean hazard and turn signal lights before taking equipment out on the road. Lights that looked very bright during a pre-season check inside the shed can become dull and confusing when they are covered by half a season worth of dust, dirt and mud. Operator training is limited to the way dad did things or whatever the driver comes up with that day.

rrlund · Aug 30, 2017

I had a guy do chores for me one time while I took a trip. I went out with him to take a load of manure so I could show him how to run the Hydra Push spreader. He was almost to the driveway where he had to turn left in to the field and he got over to the right to let traffic come around. He could only get half way off the road. There was a curve ahead so drivers couldn't even see what was coming very far ahead. I told him he was gonna get himself or somebody else killed doing that.

markct · Aug 30, 2017

I agree turn signals that double as flashers are terrible since no one notices the opposite light stop flashing.

dhermesc · Aug 30, 2017

You would think that until you sued for not using the all the flashing lights.

Mike(NEOhio) · Aug 30, 2017

Arm signals?? Who even know what they mean these days. I've been hit a couple of times and a few more close calls. Always with an arm signal for a left turn. "I thought you were waving me on" was the usual response. I only go on the road when it's necessary. Not much real farming around here any more and too many yuppies in a hurry with their busy lives to sit behind a load of hay.

Janicholson · Aug 30, 2017

Situational awareness is seriously lacking in those individuals that live in a hand held device world. They can tune out the most vital information from their surroundings . Often their decision making is focused on doing things the same way in all circumstances (easier) rather than fitting actions and procedure into every shred of visual tactical and auditory input they can get. Thinking of what operators of other vehicles are thinking or can see is not on their to do list, and usually not considered. A technology Lab full of 19 to 25 year olds is quite the challenge. Situational awareness is difficult to build into those that have had little need for it. Jim

paul · Aug 30, 2017

Because someone dies if you don't do it that way? Drive a tractor around on the roads a bit and you get a real education.......

No one pays attention, everyone is in a hurry. When driving a tractor down the road you have to drive fore everyone else, and 3 out of 7 drivers are idiots and will do the exact wrong thing. You don't know which are the 3 so you have to assume everyone is and just get them out of the way as soon as possible wherever and however it is safest.

If he tries to turn left in front of you, 3 out of 10 times you will hit the accelerator and try to roar around at the same time. -you- might be understanding, but 3 others won't and there is no way for him to know who he is dealing with.

He handled it as best as possible, left hand turns with a big very slow rig are scary in today's traffic.

Paul

Philip d · Aug 30, 2017

Sounds like drivers around here too lol

coshoo · Aug 30, 2017

He did it right. Probably had to swing wide (from the right shoulder) to make the turn, and best way is to let all the traffic clear so you can make your turn with nobody else there to do something stupid.

The only chargeable accident I ever had was with a hay truck when I was 16 (that was 53 years ago- lol). Had to make a sharp left turn into the hay field- had my left turn signal on, pulled partway onto the shoulder to make the turn, and in the middle of it, a '57 Olds tried to pass. The bumper on my '47 K7 Cornbinder came out better than her passenger side doors. Cop said I should have seen her because her car was much larger than my turn signal (which did work). No one hurt, she and her husband owned a local restaurant, we both laughed about it for the next 40 some years whenever we ran into each other.

RandyB(MI) · Aug 30, 2017

Like the others said, because he wasn't willing to take the chance that "YOU" would be that one in a hundred that actually had any common sense and would let him turn. Smarter to just let the traffic get ta *ell away so you can do what ya need to ..safely.

DENNIS MIN · Aug 30, 2017

Paul,

Not "everyone" does not pay attention. I go way out of my way to ensure the agriculture equipment is respected.

However, recently a tractor/semi were unloading sweet corn, about 420 am and they took a large part of the road with no warnings.

Not my usual experience, however, there's more than one way to see the situation, from a tractor, or from a car.

D.

people do things for a reason, but why

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