The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration, in partnership with the Maryland Department of Agriculture and Maryland Farm Bureau, issued a reminder October 8, 2025, for motorists to exercise caution around large farm equipment during the fall harvest season. The period runs from September through November, when combines and other slow-moving vehicles increase on rural roads statewide.
“With days getting shorter and farmers harvesting their crops for the season, it is especially important for drivers to use extra caution for farm equipment,” said State Highway Administrator Will Pines. “We are serious about safety – for all highway users, including those operating farm equipment.”
Maryland has more than 12,000 working farms, contributing to heightened equipment presence on highways. From 2020 to 2024, more than 235 crashes involved farm equipment on state roads. A 2019 study by the Maryland Soybean Board analyzed 298 farm vehicle accidents from 2015 to mid-2018, finding most occurred in rural counties, including 12 in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s combined.
“October is harvest month and a vital time for farmers,” said Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin M. Atticks. “Expect slow-moving farm equipment on roads. Drive with caution, slow down, maintain safe distances, and only pass when safe. Your vigilance ensures safety for both farmers and drivers, supporting a successful harvest.”
Farmers may pull off at the first safe spot to allow passing, but shoulders can be unstable, risking tip-overs. “Our farmers work hard in order to sustain our state, so let’s support them by keeping them safe while they do their job,” said Maryland Farm Bureau President Jamie Raley. “When encountering farm equipment on the road, please slow down, remain vigilant, and only pass when it is safe and legal to do so.”
Drivers should add travel time and follow these tips: Pass with extreme caution, avoiding turns, hills or limited sight distances. Be aware of trailing vehicles attempting to pass. Do not pass in no-passing zones or within 100 feet of intersections, railroad crossings, bridges, elevated structures or tunnels. Do not assume a farm vehicle pulling right will turn right or yield; wide implements often require left turns. Check operator hand signals and look for entry points like gates or driveways.
Maryland law requires slow-moving vehicle emblems—orange triangles with red borders—on equipment traveling below 25 mph on public roads. These must be visible from 500 feet, mounted 2 to 10 feet high, and kept clean. Farm vehicles also need lights and reflectors for low visibility: white or amber front lights, red rear lights and red or amber flashers. Operators of farm vehicles do not need commercial driver’s licenses for on-farm use or short hauls, but must follow weight limits and secure loads.
In Southern Maryland, agriculture plays a key role in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties, where farms cover thousands of acres. Fall harvest focuses on corn, soybeans and wheat, with corn typically ready in September and soybeans in October through November. Other crops include pumpkins, apples and late vegetables like broccoli and cabbage.The region’s mix of rural routes and commuter traffic heightens risks, as equipment moves between fields on roads like Route 5 or Route 235.
Drivers can report unsafe conditions via MDOT’s online portal or 311 services in counties. Enforcement falls under state police, with fines for improper passing up to $500.
This initiative continues efforts to reduce rural crashes, which account for a quarter of Maryland’s fatalities. As daylight shortens, visibility decreases, amplifying needs for reflective markings on equipment.
