AN anticipated large grain harvest in most parts of South Australia has prompted a safety reminder to motorists regarding the thousands of additional heavy vehicles on the road over the coming months.

Grain Producers SA (GPSA) chief executive officer Brad Perry said many of the extra vehicles will be on country roads during harvest.

“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,” Mr 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.”

The wet conditions have provided additional challenges for all motorists to be aware of during harvest, according to Mr Perry.

“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.”

The South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) suggests the following tips for sharing the road with heavy vehicles:

• Plan ahead, be patient and alert, and drive carefully
• Don’t exceed the speed limit
• Drive to the conditions, especially when visibility is low
• Ensure it’s safe to do so before overtaking trucks and large agricultural vehicles, and leave plenty of room
• Slow down when approaching slower vehicles, or vehicles entering or leaving the road
• Be aware of blind spots for heavy vehicles, as they have bigger blind spots than cars