 Each
year, nearly 8,000 highway accidents involve farm equipment,
according to the National Safety Council. Many accidents
are attributed to the increased farm sizes, requiring farmers
to travel longer distances to the fields; larger implements
designed for larger fields; and, an increasing population
that is unfamiliar with the size and speed of farm equipment.
The American Society of Agricultural Engineering (ASAE) has
passed two new standards to help reduce farm equipment highway
accidents. Standard S276.5 is an upgrade of the SMV
emblems, requiring that prismatic retroreflecive material
be used instead of engineer's grade tape. Standard S276.10
details how the new retroreflective tapes should be mounted
to farm implements for added visibility. All items necessary
to outfit one piece of farm equipment is conveniently packaged
in the reflector
kit.
Rear: Red retroreflective and fluorescent orange
tape strips should be mounted horizontally, in a side-by-side
configuration. One 2"x9" strip of red retroreflective
material should be placed on both the far left and right of
the equipment. The red strips can't be more than 16"
from the equipment extremities.
A 2"x9" fluorescent orange strip
should be placed in a line next to each red retroreflective
strip. There should be no more than six feet between
the fluorescent strips. Additional red retroreflective/orange
fluorescent combinations may be added near the center of the
equipment. See Diagrams A and B for placement. Note:
If the horizontal distance between red or orange strip combinations
exceeds six feet, we recommend another combination of red
and orange. You may count the SMV symbol itself as a
strip combination.
 Front
and Sides: Yellow retroreflective strips (2"x9")
should be mounted on the front and sides of the farm equipment.
Like the rear retroreflective strips, the yellow strips should
be placed no more than 16 inches from the extremities of the
equipment. There should be no more than six feet between
strips. However, additional yellow retroreflective strips
may be placed near the center of the equipment. See
Diagrams A and B for placement.
Note: Check your local laws
regarding proper use of flashing or rotating warning lights
while on public roads. This kit is not a replacement
for required lighting. Laws can change and may vary
from state to state.
|