Starland County has finished the first year of an ambitious new initiative to help farmers be safe on the road. Officials say the program was a huge success.
Over the farming season Starland County Bylaw Enforcement Officer Brenda Gallagher has been working on the farm safety pilot project, which launched in the spring.
Starland County is pleased with the success of the farm safety pilot project that occurred over this year’s farming season. Farmers who obeyed traffic laws, such as having lead vehicles and proper signage, were rewarded by County Bylaw Enforcement. The project was such a success, the County is working with the province to implement it across Alberta.
Unlike traditional enforcement methods, which penalize those breaking the rules, Gallagher developed a program which instead focuses on positive enforcement by rewarding those who help make the roads a safer place by abiding by the rules.
“It went over quite well. We gave out 36 gift bags this year for anyone who, for example, used a lead vehicle when taking their combines from field to field. There’s been a positive attitude around it,” said Gallagher.
The program will continue next year after a notable increase in safe farm transportation was observed this season.
The rewards include a bag with a county map, coffee mug, and pen. Next year, the reward package will include a slow moving vehicle sign.
However, Starland County may not be the only part of the province to run the program next year. The county is working with the Government of Alberta to make the program province-wide.
“We’re working with the provincial government to make the program province-wide. We didn’t have enough time this year to get it off the ground, but we’re hoping to work on it over the winter and have it ready in the spring,” said Gallagher. “We’re the first to do it and it went over well.”
Over the winter, Gallagher will also travel across the county to help educate farmers on safe transportation practices.
The program was designed in response to farmers utilizing highways more and more as their farms grow in size. The goal is to help make the roads a safer place for both farmers and motorists.
“Farms are getting so big now, their next field is 20 miles down the road,” said Gallagher.
The program will begin again in the spring.
“Hopefully next year, we can reward even more farmers,” said Gallagher. “Everyone, be safe on the roads.”
