Large machines on the road and repeated accidents at home: The farmers' association and the police appeal to farmers to exercise caution - in their own interest and that of other road users.
Tulling
- At dusk, a tractor and trailer turn from a road onto a field path. The farmer uses his turn signal, but a driver driving behind him doesn't see it. He overtakes and rushes into the side of the heavy team. “That wasn’t nice,” says Police Chief Inspector Stephan Mittermaier, remembering the serious accident last year, which could have easily been prevented. Because: “The lighting on the trailer was broken. The driver couldn’t see the indicator,” said Mittermaier. Fortunately, accidents like this don't happen often in the Ebersberg district, but the heavy tractor combinations still pose a lot of potential danger, especially during the harvest season.
With a team like this, the other road users always lose out.
Stephan Mittermaier, police chief inspector
In Tulling near Steinhöring, police chief inspector Stephan Mittermaier from the Ebersberg police station informed over 50 farmers and contractors from the area about traffic safety and accident prevention. Christian Satzl, consultant for the social insurance for agriculture, forestry and horticulture (SVLFG), also provided information about agricultural machinery and gave tips on how farmers can ensure a safe harvest. The event was organized for the first time by the Ebersberg district association of the Bavarian Farmers' Association and the Ebersberg/Munich East Machinery and Operational Assistance Ring. “We noticed that the demand for such an offer is quite high,” explained manager Christian Satzl in view of the large number of visitors at a recent event in Erding. “Road safety is an important issue that we have to address.”
With their huge and sometimes heavily loaded tractors, farmers have a lot of responsibility in road traffic. “With a team like this, the other road users always lose out,” emphasized Stephan Mittermaier with a raised index finger. In order to prevent dangerous situations, the police chief appealed to adhere to the prescribed speed limit for the respective tractor-trailer combination. “If you can only drive at 40 km/h, then please do that too.”
Securing loads and queues of cars: Police officer with a request to farmers
(By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular Ebersberg newsletter.)
Some farmers also don't take load securing very seriously. Be it branches flying down from the lumber trailer or torn telephone lines caused by hay bale trailers that were too heavily loaded. “We’ve already had all of that,” warned Mittermaier. The police chief commissioner also sees farmers as responsible for cleaning the roads. “No one is asking you to clean up the dirt every half hour. But at least put up a warning triangle,” he asked. The same applies to long queues of people driving behind agricultural machinery. “You are not obliged to go out, but do it briefly so that the traffic can pass,” said Mittermaier. This could prevent daring overtaking maneuvers and accidents.
Look at it, your family will have to pay for it otherwise
Christian Satzl
But it's not just on county roads that the large machines pose a danger to people and animals. Every year, numerous farmers are seriously injured in the fields or on their own farm, explained Christian Satzl, social insurance officer for agriculture, forestry and horticulture. Most accidents are easy to prevent: On site, Satzl warned, for example, to always get off the tractor backwards, to use a suitable ladder for overhead work or to replace the worn, small running board on the Bulldog with a non-slip one. “Look at it, your family will have to pay for it otherwise,” he appealed.
An AI-supported reversing camera can also provide more safety. “As soon as it recognizes a person, it beeps,” says Satzl, explaining the technology. “A clever thing,” commented Georg Wagner, a farmer from Tulling. He wants to get the camera for his tractor.
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