As the 2009 sugarcane grinding season gets under way in the coming days, farmers and law enforcement alike are keeping their fingers crossed for no repeat incidents like the fatal crash between a piece of slow-moving farm equipment and a vehicle traveling east-bound on U.S. 90 last year said Louisiana State Trooper Public Information Officer Sgt. David Anderson.

The season typically starts in mid-September and lasts until the end of the year.

LSU AgCenter Extension Agent Blair Hebert said the season presents situations for motorists to get used to again for a short period much like when school buses return to the roads after summer.

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The main issue on the roads this time of year, he said, is drivers need simply to be on the lookout for big tractors, semi-trucks hauling sugar cane and other farm equipment that might be moving from one field to the next. At the same time, however, he said farmers need to be aware of how large their equipment is, make sure all of it is in proper working order and be courteous to other drivers on the road.

“Equipment operators should try to give motorists an opportunity to pass when they can safely move their equipment to the shoulder,” Hebert said. “But, it’s the motorists responsibility to make sure they can pass safely.”

Some farm equipment traveling roads in the area might make a motorist here and there wonder just how fit it is to be there to begin with.

“If someone sees faulty equipment, they need to get in touch with the farmers, who 99 percent of the time will take care of the problem right away,” Hebert said. “A lot of times, something that looks like it is not in great shape, well, it may not be the prettiest, but it’s well put together and the pieces aren’t going anywhere.”

He also cautions motorists against jumping in front of any 18-wheelers carrying loads to the mill.

“The 18-wheeler will win the battle,” Hebert said. “They don’t have time to stop that quickly and many times they have to get in the left-hand land to make a right-hand turn.”

Mud and debris on the roads are another battle drivers face this time of year. Hebert said they should be cautious of not following too closely, making it possible for flying debris to hit their vehicles.

Motorists should approach mud on the roads carefully to avoid a slippery situation.

Anderson has teamed up with Hebert in the past to provide safety training for farmers traveling the roads in heavy equipment during grinding season.

One thing they stress to farmers, the state trooper said, is the utilization of alternate roadways.

“We try and get them to stay off of the interstate system,” Anderson said. “We’d like to keep these slow-moving vehicles on the service roads only but that is not always possible depending on their route.”

Anderson said the key to safe co-mingling of farm equipment and smaller vehicles on area roads is courtesy.

“People that drive in the conditions that grinding season presents need to be aware of their surroundings,” he said. “We need to share the roadway and play nicely for the next few months.”

Anderson said the rate of incidents between vehicles and equipment is about the same this time of year. “The farmers have really come a long ways,” he said. “They are playing a big role and taking an active part. They don’t want to see anyone get hurt, they are just trying to make a living.”