SAN PATRICIO COUNTY, Texas — The San Patricio County Farm Bureau is taking the initiative to pose several big billboards in high traffic areas to prevent vehicle crashes involving farm equipment.
The first sign was posted at the beginning of June and each one cost about $1,000 to create. But the farm bureau said it's worth it, if it means it will save lives.
Scott Frazier has been farming for over 40 years and he has seen three to four tractor-vehicle crashes. One of them involved a close friend of his from Alice and that crash proved fatal.
"It basically tore the tractor in half and it was an 18-wheeler," Frazier said. "And I think to one of the people it was fatal, so it can be serious."
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, in 2022 there were 162 total crashes involving farm equipment in rural areas. Out of those crashes, just six were fatal, but even a non-fatal crash can impact lives.
"One of our pieces of equipment here about a month ago got struck by a car from the back and actually turned that tractor over and injured our worker," Frazier said.
He said that worker was not able to return to work.
That's why the San Patricio County Farm Bureau is placing new signage along high-traffic roads in rural parts of the county.
Board member Bobby Nedbalek said he hopes the signs keep drivers alert.
"When you see a big piece of farm equipment that's on the highway, ahead of you on the highway slow down and anticipate that tractor or piece of combine is going at 20 mph," Nedblaek said. "You're going 70 mph, so it takes 100 yards for you to break to 70 to 20 mph or to a stop if it's necessary."
Summer is peak season for traffic for both drivers and farmers.
"And this time of the year with harvest going on there are lots of equipment on the road more so than just normal times of the year, but during harvest and planting we're all just out and working," Frazier said.
In addition to the big signs, Nedblaek said vehicles like tractors are required to have a large orange triangle on the back.
"It's put on equipment that's traveling less than 20 mph," Nedblaek said. "By the time you see the orange sign you better be slowed down already."
The San Patricio County Farmer Bureau is planning to post more signs around the county.
