Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the bumper harvest meant more heavy vehicles and farm machinery on the roads as well as a surge in activity on level crossings where trains are rarely seen.

“A big harvest means a lot of grain to move and often a lot more machinery like headers on our roads which hasn’t been as common during the drought,” Mr Toole said.

“We need all road users to be patient, to slow down and allow extra travel time. Trucks may also have trailers attached and can be longer or wider than expected, so road users need to take extra care when changing lanes and should not try and overtake until it is safe.

“Harvest is crunch time for farmers, the pressure’s on, and it’s not easy moving big machinery, so give them the room they need and be patient.”

An awareness campaign run by Transport for NSW in partnership with GrainCorp is promoting road safety messages to road users on strategically-placed electronic message signs along key harvest routes this season.

“Fatigue is still one of the biggest killers on our roads and after long days harvesting and transporting grain, farmers and grain transporters need to ensure they are managing their fatigue,” Mr Toole said.

“Ensure you are well rested and if you feel tired while driving, pull over in a safe place and have a rest. We want everyone to get home safely this harvest.”

For more information please visit the Centre for Road Safety website: Fatigue campaign / Be Truck Aware campaign