Now that the rain is here, farmers all around the country are embarking on various and different agricultural activities.
This is a welcome economic activity of sustainability which, however, does not come short of hazards they impose on the road. Starting with the rain, itself, it has so much impact the way that it affects the road surface, making it hard for drivers to manoeuvre.
Several accidents in traffic occur due to activities provoked by the rains and in some parts of the country, the road may even be impassable. This calls for caution especially in these areas of economic agricultural undertakings.
Tractors a hazard when not properly handled
It is an open secret that most tractor drivers are not trained and licensed for the task. Instead, they undergo informal training and get to the field or the road in execution of that needful agricultural activity, lacking the necessary experience to survive and prevent crashes.
While a tractor may be used principally on the field, the driver is apt to use a public or private road at some point in time and interact with traffic. This is someone who has not been exposed to the rules, regulations and signs of the road. For that reason, they may cause horrific accidents to other road users on their way to and from the fields.
Remember, they may be driving tractors that are not road worthy in that they may not have lights, indicators or brakes. Many accidents have been realised wherein oncoming or following traffic rams behind or on a tractor that is totally obscured because it has no lights, or a driver who simply plunges onto the mainstream traffic without ensuring safety for everyone.
It is imperative, therefore, that all tractor drivers be trained and keep tractor road at all times.
Haulage trucks can be a hazard on the road
There is sugar cane haulage activity that assumes well before the rains. As the cane is ferried from the fields to the mills it drops on the road and by extension, draws stray animals unto the road to enjoy the delicacy of the canes.
This is dangerous for other road users as they may hit these animals who become prevalent due to this economic undertaking.
In summer, when it rains, the haulage trucks are covered with so much mud that the panels for indicators, brake light and chevrons are covered, following traffic would not easily discern if the huge vehicle in front is turning to the sides and a smash from behind is realised.
Again, as trucks leave the muddy field to join mainstream traffic, they make heavy droppings of mud unto an even road surface and those who drive fast are apt to lose control of their vehicles at that area where there is so much piles of mud, making the road slippery.
It would be important for trucks to keep the communicative panels clear to inform other motorists of each intention in traffic before they would even execute same.
One would expect the field marshals to clear the hazardous mud left by the vehicles on road, clear it to allow other road users to drive past that space without impediments.
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