Indiana Law Enforcement Warns Harvest Season Hazards

The fall harvest is underway here in southern Indiana, and it's essential to be aware of a few safety hazards to ensure the safety of both farmers and motorists.

As you are very well aware by now, it's that time of year again when our local farmers will begin their fall harvest. That could cause some potential hazards to drivers, as farmers will be moving farm implements and other agricultural machinery along county roadways to access farm fields, among other things. Granted, you want to make sure that you are always aware of your surroundings while driving, but during harvest season, there are a few things that you should look out for.

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Vanderburgh County Sheriff Issues Harvest Safety Warning

According to a press release from the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office, Indiana motorists should be prepared for machinery to enter a field from the roadway or exit a field onto the roadway. We see it all of the time this time of year, where our local farmers are using the roads to get to and from the fields, with traffic behind them. It's up to us, the drivers, to use caution when sharing the roadways with the agricultural machinery. The press release states:

Machinery that travels under 25 miles per hour must display a slow-moving vehicle emblem (see Indiana Code 9-21-9). “Crashes can occur when a motorist fails to recognize that the machinery they are approaching is moving at a significantly slower speed than normal traffic,” said Sheriff Robinson. “The risk of making this miscalculation increases at night. Don’t attempt to pass slow-moving farm equipment unless it is safe and legal.”

So, be patient, slow down, allow our farmers to do their jobs safely, and remember this isn't the only fall driving hazard to look out for.

Watch Out For Deer!

As you know, fall also means you will likely see more deer while you are driving. That's because October and November are the breeding season for white-tailed deer.  As corn harvesting begins, the deer lose their cover and start crossing roadways more frequently. In 2024, Vanderburgh County recorded 80 deer-related crashes, with 11 resulting in bodily injury. So far in 2025, there have been 42 crashes involving deer, with two of those resulting in bodily injury.

Here are some tips to avoid hitting a deer while driving:

Fall Harvest Safety Tips:

In summary, the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office wants to remind you to:

• Exercise caution and patience when approaching farm machinery.
• Farm machinery may enter the roadway at any time, so slow down if you see equipment traveling towards or adjacent to a roadway.
• Do not pass farm machinery unless it is safe and legal to do so.
• Farm machinery is typically not equipped with turn signals, so be cautious of unanticipated left turns and increase your following distance at night.
• Be aware of increased traffic at agricultural tourism locations.
• Watch for off-road vehicles, which are more likely to make unexpected movements. 
• Watch for deer! If you spot one, then expect more to cross.