Regional Municipality of Durham Advises Motorists of Farm Vehicles on Local Roads

Farm vehicles are operating on public roads in Durham Region during harvest season, according to an announcement from the Regional Municipality of Durham on June 3, 2025. The regional government advises that the use of rural roads by farm machinery may cause temporary delays for motorists.

This advisory is relevant to Durham Region drivers who may encounter slow-moving equipment, especially as farmers travel between fields and transport crops during this time of year.

The Regional Municipality states that, at this time of year, farmers often use public roads to move between fields in preparation for harvest. During harvest, these roads are also used to transport crops.

The Region advises motorists to watch for orange triangle emblems on the backs of vehicles, which indicate slow-moving vehicles. Farm vehicles may not be equipped with brake lights or turn signals, so operators may use hand signals to show their intentions.

The Region notes that agricultural machinery may swing wide to make turns. A vehicle moving to the right may still be preparing for a left turn. Some farm equipment is too large to remain in a single lane. According to the Region, machinery that is partly on the shoulder may move fully onto the road to avoid obstacles such as mailboxes. Often, there are protruding parts from tractors that may be difficult to see.

The Regional Municipality advises motorists to use caution when passing farm equipment, as large agricultural machinery may not brake as quickly as cars. Farmers may also be unable to pull off the road due to the weight of their equipment or road shoulder conditions. The Region also advises against passing farm vehicles at intersections, as the equipment may turn without signaling or seeing traffic behind them.