There’s an old Alabama song with that title. It’s a catchy phrase, and, to be honest, it probably describes how many of us feel most days. We’re rushing from one obligation to the next, trying to squeeze one more task into an already packed schedule.
But something happened recently, and I’ve found myself thinking that maybe we all need a little more time.
Recently, I was helping my dad move equipment between our farms along a quarter-mile stretch of highway. I was parked at the top of a hill with my hazard lights on, trying to slow traffic and warn drivers that a large piece of equipment was ahead. Despite the flashing lights and my attempts to wave people down, several drivers pulled out to pass anyway. When they finally saw the equipment, they had no choice but to veer onto the gravel shoulder to avoid a collision.
Unfortunately, this experience isn’t unusual.
Across Missouri, farmers move equipment from field to field every day. We haul hay, transport machinery and make short trips on rural roads that often require patience from everyone sharing them. Yet, time and again, we see vehicles pass farm equipment despite activated turn signals and ignore lead or follow vehicles assisting with the move. We see motorists take risks that endanger not only themselves but also the farmers and families working to produce our food.
The truth is, most of these situations could be avoided with a little patience.
I understand the frustration. Nobody enjoys getting stuck behind a tractor moving 20 mph. We all have places to be, meetings to attend, kids to pick up, appointments to keep or are simply ready to get home after a long day.
But the few minutes you save by making a risky pass simply aren’t worth the consequences.
Farm equipment is larger and wider than ever before. It may need to cross the center line to safely navigate bridges, curves or narrow roads. A turn signal on a tractor or combine means exactly what it means on your car: The operator intends to turn. Passing at that moment can create a dangerous situation in an instant.
Every year, farmers and motorists alike are injured or killed in crashes that never should have happened. Most of those tragedies can be traced back to a simple decision to hurry instead of wait.
I hope we’ll all remember that safety is everyone’s responsibility. The farmer in the tractor wants to get home safely just as much as the family in the SUV.
That Alabama song says, “I’m in a Hurry.” Maybe that’s the problem. Too many drivers think they don’t have time to slow down, time to wait or time to be patient.
The reality is, they do.
Because taking an extra minute on the road is far better than spending a lifetime wishing you had.
Slow down. Pay attention. Give farm equipment plenty of room.
Trust me, you’ve got time, and we all want to get home.
