GEORGIA (WTXL/WALB) - Georgia farmers and state law enforcement agencies are encouraging drivers to slow down when approaching tractors and farm vehicles.
Wednesday, folks gathered at the expo to hear from a Crisp County farmer who has been directly impacted by a farm tractor accident.
John Bullington, joined with AG Commissioner Gary Black and Folks at the Governors office of Highway Safety, say the best word of advice they have for motorists is to slow down and pay attention. They say these kind of crashes are preventable.
Bullington and his brother are farmers in Crisp County, but four years ago that all tragically changed. Bullington's brother Donald was involved in a crash with farm vehicles on Highway 41, injuring him, and ruining his career.
The message they are now hoping to get across to the public is to slow down, put your phone down, and be patient.
Last year, GDOT reported 494 crashes on Georgia roads involving farm and construction vehicles with 12 fatalities and 185 injuries. State leaders say that is far too many and 100 percent of those crashes are preventable.
Bullington says ever since that day of the crash, he has been mindful of other drivers on the road. He says farmers just want to share the road and once it's safe for them to pull off the road, they will and allow traffic to pass.
