Slow Moving Vehicle triangles - be on the lookout! - AgrAbility

Samantha Wolfe<[email protected]>, Michigan State University Extension - October 04, 2024

Updated from an original article written by Kelly Ewalt, Michigan State University Extension.

Ensuring your Slow Moving Vehicle signs are in good shape will make traveling the roads safer for farmers and other road drivers.

SMV … As a motorist, SMV means slow down and pay attention! It’s not another techie internet acronym, but something that can help save the life of a farmer or farm worker while they are out doing their job. The bright, reflective, red-bordered orange triangle emblem is a warning that there is a Slow-Moving Vehicle (SMV) ahead.

The signs are a warning to other people on the road that the vehicle or piece of equipment in front of you is moving at 25 mph or less. Most farmers who drive tractors or other machinery on public roads have experienced people rapidly approaching them. At 55 mph, it only takes a few seconds to come up on a SMV. These reflective triangles alert drivers to slow down and keep a safe distance until it is safe to pass.

In Michigan, from 2018 to 2022, there were 1,028 crashes involving farm equipment, resulting in 22 fatalities. Crashes involving farm equipment are most prevalent in May (31), October (27), and November (28), with an average of 22 each month from June to September. It is important – and the law – to have visible, well-mounted, reflective SMV signs on all tractors and implements that operate at speeds under 25 miles per hour, including horse-drawn vehicles. If signs are worn or faded, they need to be replaced to ensure visibility from 500 feet. SMV signs are available at most farm and home retail stores.

Because they are meant to be such an important warning signal for slow-moving equipment, SMV signs should be covered or removed when an implement is being trailered or hauled at higher speeds, although this is more of a courtesy than a requirement in Michigan. It is also improper to use the SMV sign as a decoration or as a reflector on driveways or mailboxes. If a reflective marker is necessary, lane markers or other small reflectors are a better option, to maintain the heritage and importance of the SMV icon.

The SMV is an important safety feature for farmers and motorists alike. The bright, reflective design is a warning signal for the presence of slow-moving vehicles, meant to reduce the risk of crashes and save lives, so displaying them properly is crucial. By adhering to these simple safety practices, drivers can help prevent accidents and keep everyone safe on the road.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

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