Close call today

Bmyers

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Grand L3560 with LA805 loader, EA 55" Wicked Grapple, SBX72 BB, LP 1272 mower
May 27, 2019
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Southern Illinois
Not sure how widely that is true. I was making left turn in a no passing zone with signal on and officer charged me with making illegal turn. Very good friend who was attorney said I would need to ask for jury trial to have chance to win the case. Yes rural farming area.
Curious, if you don't mind sharing, did you turn in front of oncoming traffic? Did someone illegally pass you and hit you? I'm not following how a no passing zone makes a left turn illegal?
 

NHSleddog

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B2650
Dec 19, 2019
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Southern, NH
What people tend to forget is that a tractor always has the right of way on a road (except a limited access highway unless by special permit). Basically, that means if someone collides with a tractor, they are liable.
Flip has VERY little understanding of road laws in America.

If a tractor operator does something negligent on the road or causes an accident IT IS THE TRACTOR OPERATORS FAULT and responsibility.

Be careful who you take legal advice from.
 

re54drider

Member

Equipment
L2800, FEL, Bush Hog
May 9, 2011
64
26
18
Goldston, nc
Rather than focus on the legality of the issue, the important thing is to make it to where you need to go. Tractors are slow and impede progress of faster cars when on the road. Do you want to die for your legal rights? These days distracted drivers are the norm. Just because you have the right of way legally does not bring you back from serious injury or death. When I have to travel on a road I am constantly scanning in all directions for possible problems. When in doubt I have left the roadway to avoid an accident. Defensive driving is best here.
 

SidecarFlip

Banned

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M9000HDCC3, M9000HD, Kubota GS850 Sidekick
Oct 28, 2018
7,197
546
83
USA
Rather than focus on the legality of the issue, the important thing is to make it to where you need to go. Tractors are slow and impede progress of faster cars when on the road. Do you want to die for your legal rights? These days distracted drivers are the norm. Just because you have the right of way legally does not bring you back from serious injury or death. When I have to travel on a road I am constantly scanning in all directions for possible problems. When in doubt I have left the roadway to avoid an accident. Defensive driving is best here.

All well and good except when you are towing an implement that is wider than the travel lane width. I typically pull implements that are appreciably wider than the roadway
People today are in a big hurry to get nowhere and get immediately agitated when they are delayed.

Good example is people going to work. They leave for work with no time to spare, drive like idiots (ever drive in rush hour?). It's called rush hour because everyone is late and drive like idiots.

Glad I'm retired. I always left for work early and drove sanely. Not the norm today.
 

re54drider

Member

Equipment
L2800, FEL, Bush Hog
May 9, 2011
64
26
18
Goldston, nc
All well and good except when you are towing an implement that is wider than the travel lane width. I typically pull implements that are appreciably wider than the roadway
People today are in a big hurry to get nowhere and get immediately agitated when they are delayed.

Good example is people going to work. They leave for work with no time to spare, drive like idiots (ever drive in rush hour?). It's called rush hour because everyone is late and drive like idiots.

Glad I'm retired. I always left for work early and drove sanely. Not the norm today.
When towing an implement wider than the roadway (at least in NC) it is up to you to do it safely. Around here farmers go out of their way to allow traffic to pass by pulling over or waving the traffic by. No need to have a contest where someone is injured or dies.
 

SidecarFlip

Banned

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M9000HDCC3, M9000HD, Kubota GS850 Sidekick
Oct 28, 2018
7,197
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When towing an implement wider than the roadway (at least in NC) it is up to you to do it safely. Around here farmers go out of their way to allow traffic to pass by pulling over or waving the traffic by. No need to have a contest where someone is injured or dies.

Again, all well and good but, you have to get to where you can pull out of the travel lane to let traffic by. I do that all the time. The issue arises when the motorist is too impatient to wait and does something stupid.

I'm not pulling up in someone's front yard so people can get by. For one, it's private property and two it's nor acceptable practice.

My disc mower is 10 feet wide folded for transport it don't get any narrower. On a rural 2 lane I'm not only in the travel lane, I'm in the opposing lane as well.

Hurry up and wait. You should have left earlier.
 

re54drider

Member

Equipment
L2800, FEL, Bush Hog
May 9, 2011
64
26
18
Goldston, nc
Again, all well and good but, you have to get to where you can pull out of the travel lane to let traffic by. I do that all the time. The issue arises when the motorist is too impatient to wait and does something stupid.

I'm not pulling up in someone's front yard so people can get by. For one, it's private property and two it's nor acceptable practice.

My disc mower is 10 feet wide folded for transport it don't get any narrower. On a rural 2 lane I'm not only in the travel lane, I'm in the opposing lane as well.

Hurry up and wait. You should have left earlier.
Like I said earlier, it is up to you to travel safely. Technically in NC if your load is wider than the lane you should have the proper lead and follow cars to ensure safe travel. Bottom line is to get where you need to be safely.
 

SidecarFlip

Banned

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M9000HDCC3, M9000HD, Kubota GS850 Sidekick
Oct 28, 2018
7,197
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Like I said earlier, it is up to you to travel safely. Technically in NC if your load is wider than the lane you should have the proper lead and follow cars to ensure safe travel. Bottom line is to get where you need to be safely.
I think you'll find that only applies to over the road movements of overwidth / overheight loads, not slow moving farm related equipment.

I have never seen a lead or chase vehicle with a tractor on the road, ever. Another reason why (if you read the signage) on any limited access highway or Interstate, it plainly states no farm equipment allowed unless specifically permitted.

If my above comment isn't correct, please provide a link to your state's regs.
 

re54drider

Member

Equipment
L2800, FEL, Bush Hog
May 9, 2011
64
26
18
Goldston, nc
I think you'll find that only applies to over the road movements of overwidth / overheight loads, not slow moving farm related equipment.

I have never seen a lead or chase vehicle with a tractor on the road, ever. Another reason why (if you read the signage) on any limited access highway or Interstate, it plainly states no farm equipment allowed unless specifically permitted.

If my above comment isn't correct, please provide a link to your state's regs.
Just because you have never seen it does not mean it is not required. If you want to see the NC regs google them. Besides, who is going to take a tractor on an interstate? We are talking about secondary two lane roads here, are we not?
 

re54drider

Member

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L2800, FEL, Bush Hog
May 9, 2011
64
26
18
Goldston, nc
Just because you have never seen it does not mean it is not required. If you want to see the NC regs google them. Besides, who is going to take a tractor on an interstate? We are talking about secondary two lane roads here, are we not?
Copied from MI website: An implement of husbandry must be operated to the right of the center of the roadway; when approaching the crest of a grade or upon a curve in the highway where the driver’s view is obstructed within a distance as to create a hazard in the event another vehicle might approach from the opposite direction; when the view is obstructed upon approaching within 100 feet of a bridge, viaduct, or tunnel; and from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise or any time visibility is substantially diminished due to weather conditions (MVC 257.639, 257.717(2)).

Bottom line: Be safe not sorry.
 

Palmettokat

Active member

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M6800, B2710, L6060, Volvo 5 ton excavator and implements.
Apr 21, 2020
251
53
28
South Carolina
Curious, if you don't mind sharing, did you turn in front of oncoming traffic? Did someone illegally pass you and hit you? I'm not following how a no passing zone makes a left turn illegal?
It was a no passing zone between a hill and sharp turn. The hill was steep enough to prevent seeing on coming traffic so that made it no passing and the curve was sharp enough to prevent seeing any on coming traffic so also no passing zone. I was working between the curve and hill moving dirt to fill tree hole hurricane blew over. Was driving from the curve to just short of the hill making a left turn before the top of the hill when a pickup who was local of came around the curve and went to run around me while I was making left turn off the road. He told the officer he followed me around the curve at 15 miles per hour and then I turned into him. He was suppose to be running if memory is correct like 25 in 45 speed limit area. Yet it took over a hundred feet to stop running over the road through a ditch and back onto the road. He backed his pickup back to my tractor so it look like he was able to stop right there. I told the officer problem is, I came around the curve about an hour earlier running over 23 mph and was making the left hand turn with signal on and after checking mirror. Office wanted to see if my turn signal worked and then went back to saying I had come around the curve at 15 when I said sir, I came around that curve over 23 mph and know that firmly you see my tractor have a digital speed odometer and will run near 25.

My friend who is an attorney and has worked as city judge told me he should have charged each of us and I said I agree, me with making improper turn and him improper passing and let the case been proven with experts in court. One big problem I had was this was rural road and while the law sets the specs on NO PASSING ZONE the road is not heavy traffic so not marked even center line is not. It seems the officer was not as educated on this as he should have been.
 
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Nevada

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L2501
Sep 2, 2020
9
4
3
Esmeralda County, Nevada
He was in his 70’s and had riden a long time. Always known to be safe.
I was in my 30's and realized I had over 100,000 miles on motorcycles and never had an accident, not even set it down. At that point I sold my current bike and have yet to buy another one. 100,000 miles with no scratches is a pretty good return at the casino, I figured it was best not to push my luck.
 

Bmyers

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Grand L3560 with LA805 loader, EA 55" Wicked Grapple, SBX72 BB, LP 1272 mower
May 27, 2019
3,170
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Southern Illinois
It was a no passing zone between a hill and sharp turn. The hill was steep enough to prevent seeing on coming traffic so that made it no passing and the curve was sharp enough to prevent seeing any on coming traffic so also no passing zone. I was working between the curve and hill moving dirt to fill tree hole hurricane blew over. Was driving from the curve to just short of the hill making a left turn before the top of the hill when a pickup who was local of came around the curve and went to run around me while I was making left turn off the road. He told the officer he followed me around the curve at 15 miles per hour and then I turned into him. He was suppose to be running if memory is correct like 25 in 45 speed limit area. Yet it took over a hundred feet to stop running over the road through a ditch and back onto the road. He backed his pickup back to my tractor so it look like he was able to stop right there. I told the officer problem is, I came around the curve about an hour earlier running over 23 mph and was making the left hand turn with signal on and after checking mirror. Office wanted to see if my turn signal worked and then went back to saying I had come around the curve at 15 when I said sir, I came around that curve over 23 mph and know that firmly you see my tractor have a digital speed odometer and will run near 25.

My friend who is an attorney and has worked as city judge told me he should have charged each of us and I said I agree, me with making improper turn and him improper passing and let the case been proven with experts in court. One big problem I had was this was rural road and while the law sets the specs on NO PASSING ZONE the road is not heavy traffic so not marked even center line is not. It seems the officer was not as educated on this as he should have been.
Thanks for the explanation. Glad you were okay.
 

tawood

New member

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L2501
Apr 18, 2020
29
3
3
Lapeer, MI
The gravel roads where I live are 55 mph speed limit. Some drive 25 mph, some drive 70 mph, which makes them that much more unsafe. I wish they would just pave them.
I was almost hit last year when I was grading a neighbor's driveway. A woman in a minivan was going 70 mph+ and I couldn't react in time. Would have been considered my fault if we hit as I pulled out onto the road not seeing her/realizing her speed, which would have added insult to injury.
 

aaluck

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L4400HST, Bush Hog 276, RDTH60, Speeco PHD, etc
Oct 9, 2019
928
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Snowdoun, AL
Not sure how widely that is true. I was making left turn in a no passing zone with signal on and officer charged me with making illegal turn. Very good friend who was attorney said I would need to ask for jury trial to have chance to win the case. Yes rural farming area.
That's very interesting. Are you saying he ticketed you for crossing the solid line to make a turn or pass? If this is correct in SC I would get a ticket every time I turn into any driveway. I have a double solid line I cross.

Maybe I misunderstood your post
 

Palmettokat

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M6800, B2710, L6060, Volvo 5 ton excavator and implements.
Apr 21, 2020
251
53
28
South Carolina
That's very interesting. Are you saying he ticketed you for crossing the solid line to make a turn or pass? If this is correct in SC I would get a ticket every time I turn into any driveway. I have a double solid line I cross.

Maybe I misunderstood your post
I was charged for making a turn into the path of a pickup passing (from behind) on my left on two lane road. My issue was he was not LEGAL to be passing as we were in a no passing zone. If he had not been making an illegal pass all would have been well. Had he been driving the speed he told the officer he was all would have been well. The road had NO lines or signage but by state law it was a NO PASSING ZONE.
 

aaluck

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L4400HST, Bush Hog 276, RDTH60, Speeco PHD, etc
Oct 9, 2019
928
746
93
Snowdoun, AL
I was charged for making a turn into the path of a pickup passing (from behind) on my left on two lane road. My issue was he was not LEGAL to be passing as we were in a no passing zone. If he had not been making an illegal pass all would have been well. Had he been driving the speed he told the officer he was all would have been well. The road had NO lines or signage but by state law it was a NO PASSING ZONE.
Wow. So YOU got ticketed for him making an illegal pass? Not to be a di&^ but I think your lawyer friend may have given you some bad advice.

Not trying to highjack the thread but how do you think you should have been ticketed for making a LEGAL left turn? In SC if you slow down to make a turn and get hit from behind are you ticketed for making an illegal stop for your turn? Are folks in SC not allowed to TURN off of the roads? Do you have to stay on the road until it ends? This makes no sense to my tiny brain.
 

GeoHorn

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M4700DT, LA1002FEL, Ferguson5-8B Compactor-Roller, 10KDumpTrailer, RTV-X900
May 18, 2018
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Texas
Not sure how widely that is true. I was making left turn in a no passing zone with signal on and officer charged me with making illegal turn. Very good friend who was attorney said I would need to ask for jury trial to have chance to win the case. Yes rural farming area.
The officer acted improperly and it would be a simple matter to appear before the traffic-judge, post bond, and appeal to county-court requesting trial by jury. Chances are the prosecutor would have dropped the case at that point, knowing it’s a loss for him and the county.
 
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