La Crosse Sheriff’s Office advises caution as fall driving hazards increase

It’s harvest season so, along with everything else to look out for on the road, there will also be the occasional slow moving vehicle with an orange triangle on the back.

As farmers finish up harvest, Bryan Cessford with the La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office says drivers need to be alert.

“Everyone should be cautious about going around a corner or over a hill because that farm machinery is moving very slowly,” Cessford said. “They’re often turning into a nearby driveway or just coming onto the roadway.”

While drivers need to be patient and pick an obvious opportunity to pass those vehicles, farm machinery operators have some responsibilities, as well.

“They need to make sure all of their lights, reflectors and ‘slow-moving vehicle’ emblems are working,” Cessford said. “We know that equipment can go over the centerline. It’s up to the operator to yield to oncoming traffic.”

Deer hunting season is also right around the corner in Wisconsin. That means that vehicles might be an unintentional weapon soon.

Cessford advises that if you’re about to hit a deer, just take your losses.

“We find that people who swerve or try to avoid a deer by going off the roadway end up in a lot worse situation,” he said.

If you hit a deer and it dies, call the sheriff’s department. You can claim the deer at that point, or it will dispose of the carcass.