Farmers urge caution on the streets: the corn harvest is imminent

Created: 08/08/2022, 12:00 p.m

By: Bernd Heinzinger

The corn is still there.

During the harvest season, warnings of the dangers of overtaking, high speeds and distraction were warned (from left) Christian Satzl (professional association), Florian Maier (deputy local chairman Oberding), Karl-Heinz Lauffen (PI Erding), Bernhard Hartl (deputy district chairman), Jakob Maier (district chairman) and Martin Haindl (machine ring).

© Bernd Heinzinger

In the next few weeks, more and more large agricultural machinery can be found on the road: farmers' associations and the police are campaigning for all road users to be considerate during the corn harvest.

Niederding

– In the next four weeks there will also be more combine harvesters on the streets in the Erdinger district, because the harvest is about to begin.

In the run-up, the farmers' association, machine ring and police try to promote mutual consideration in traffic.

On the one hand, they appeal to the responsibility of the farmers: Of course, the farmer should not drive too fast with his 3.50 meter wide, 40-ton truck, emphasized district chairman Jakob Maier: "We always have to pay attention to safety." On the other hand But they also want consideration for others: "However, the drivers should also look at us," said Maier.

Bernhard Hartl, the deputy district chairman, wished: “More acceptance is needed.

Any one of us can certainly tell a story that got sticky.”

Especially overtaking in unclear situations harbors great potential for danger.

Karl-Heinz Lauffen from the Dorfen Police Inspectorate warned: “Drivers often start at the last minute.

But patience is the most important thing.” When overtaking such a large vehicle, another car is quickly overlooked.

Everyone appealed to the reasonableness of drivers, after all, the corn harvest is an important activity that only lasts four weeks.

Farmers would be anything but idle to fix the problems on the roads, Hartl added.

The pollution of the roadways would be less and less with sweepers, and one would also try to avoid the main traffic routes as much as possible.

Nevertheless, one must also take a good look at one's own nose, emphasized Christian Satzl, safety adviser to the trade association.

As little as 16-year-olds are allowed to drive the 40-ton machines: "There is often a lack of experience, and they are always on the road at increased speed." August 23, at 7 p.m. in the Gasthaus Groll in Hofstarring, an event organized by the trade association on the subject of "safety during the corn harvest", Satzl advertises.

Because many fatal accidents have happened in the past when reversing, the event also includes a practical part in this regard.

Reversing cameras with person recognition could also provide an improvement in these situations.

Satzl: "Unfortunately, these are not yet widespread in our country." Karl-Heinz Lauffen mentioned another problem - the mobile phone: "The drivers of the large machines are a cross-section of the population and the mobile phone plays a major role, especially among young people."

When driving a car, the distraction caused by a smartphone is already fatal, but it is much more dangerous with an oversized machine: "We have to take action here," Lauffen demanded.

There are more and more hands-free devices, but that doesn't help if you look at a Whatsapp message unnecessarily.

But by far the most common cause of dangerous accidents was inappropriate speeds, Lauffen emphatically explained.

Consideration on the part of drivers and farmers is the best way to ensure that there are no or at least as few accidents as possible with cars and the large harvesting machines during the corn harvest in the coming weeks.

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