Driving Your Tractor on the Road

While tractors are big and slow-moving vehicles, they can still be driven on the road, provided you follow the local rules and regulations. However, this presents certain unique challenges, which is why it’s important to know a few important tips to ensure a safe experience for you and those around you.

Here at Rivera's Machinery, Inc., we take your safety very seriously, so we’ve created this guide to help you drive your tractor with care. Feel free to give us a call or stop by our dealership if you have any questions or you simply want to check out our selection of tractors for sale near Harlingen. You’ll find us located in Donna, Texas, so stop by today!

Be Aware of Other Vehicles

Your tractor moves much slower than a commercial vehicle so avoid driving during peak traffic hours. If you have to go by road, do so at times when there’s little to no traffic. Ensure that your slow-moving vehicle emblem is visible as well as reflective tape if it's dark outside. Turn signals should be used as motorists often assume a tractor is slowing down to let them pass while it could be slowing down to take a turn. When you can, pull off the road to let cars pass you safely. Use hand signals to let motorists know you’re letting them pass you. If you can, use pilot vehicles to escort your tractor on longer trips.

Follow the Rules

You need to drive extra carefully and follow all rules of the road when driving a tractor on public roads. That means wearing your seatbelt, signaling properly, and driving as defensively as possible. Rollover protection can help in the case of an accident as well, just to be safe. Again, make sure you check all local applicable laws before you drive your tractor on public roads.

Lights

Your tractor may not need headlights or brake lights in the field, but you can’t drive it on a road without them. All tractors must have two forward-facing headlights, a red tail light that’s continuous and visible for 500 feet, and hazard lights. Those hazards must be activated when you’re on a public road as an extra warning to other drivers that you may not be up to the speed limit. Like with the slow-moving vehicle emblem, any towed equipment that might block your hazards must have hazards of its own, and your other lights must be visible to other traffic as well.

We hope that this guide helps you ride your tractor safely on the road. If you have any questions, or you want to check out our inventory of tractors, contact us at Rivera's Machinery, Inc. in Donna, TX. We proudly serve all those in Harlingen and San Benito, so get in touch with us today!