2. DETAILED USER'S GUIDE
Manitoba Highways and Transportation is introducing a new regulation for the lighting and marking of farm equipment transported on Manitoba highways to help ensure our roads are safe for travel.
The nighttime transport of improperly marked and lit farm equipment poses significant hazard. But it’s important to note that recent studies also indicate a high number of daytime collisions between farm equipment and motor vehicles, suggesting that visibility is also very important in daytime conditions.
Reducing the risk of collisions is not only up to the farm equipment operator. Motorists need to be vigilant and alert to slow-moving farm equipment on roadways, especially in the early morning and evening when most equipment is being moved.
Manitoba’s Lighting and Marking of Agricultural Equipment on Highways Regulation is generally consistent with the American National Standards ANSI/ASAE S279.9 APR90/SAE J137 JUN89 (Lighting and Marking of Agricultural Field Equipment on Highways) as used by the Canadian Standards Association standard CSA M669-97, (Agricultural Tractors and Field Machinery Lighting and Marking for Highway Travel). However, some “Made in Manitoba” exceptions have been created to accommodate existing equipment.
The CSA/ANSI standard details the different requirements for tractors, self-propelled equipment and implements. The new Manitoba regulation also addresses the transport of normally stationary equipment (farmstead equipment). It includes various lighting and marking options for different equipment sizes, configurations and combinations of equipment, and whether transport takes place at night or during the day.
Equipment transported on roads during daytime or nighttime must be marked and lit according to the requirements of the Lighting and Marking Regulation. You can request copies of the regulation from Manitoba Statutory Publications, 200 Vaughan St., Winnipeg, MB, R3C 1T5, Phone: (204) 945 3101, Fax: (204) 945 7172.
Both new and existing equipment is affected, however the new Manitoba regulation treats each differently.
Existing equipment is defined as agricultural equipment manufactured prior to January 1, 1998. Existing equipment can use markings only (reflectors, flags, etc.) when moved in the daytime. It must have lighting when moved at night or during periods of insufficient light. Lighting equipment can be temporary and portable, such as after-market warning lamps with magnetic bases. “Hard wiring” of existing equipment is not necessary.
New equipment is defined as agricultural equipment manufactured on or after January 1, 1998. New equipment must be fully equipped with all required lighting and marking when travelling on public roads, day or night. These are the same requirements as for existing equipment that travels at night, except warning or extremity lights must flash in unison. See Appendix V, Table 3 for a summary of the requirements for new equipment.
New self-propelled and towed equipment must have all extremity warning lights connected by hard wiring. Towing vehicles and towed equipment will be connected via a standardized seven-pin electrical connector.
Major manufacturers of new equipment have optional lighting packages that already meet the new regulations. Those manufacturers not currently meeting the new regulations are asked to comply by January 1, 1998.
The lighting and marking requirements for farmstead equipment are the same as the requirements for existing equipment, regardless of the date of manufacture.
The new regulation uses the definition of farmstead equipment found in the American Society of Agricultural Engineers standard (ASAE Standard S390.1 Dec94, Classification and Definitions of Agricultural Equipment). Farmstead equipment is defined as “Equipment, other than agricultural field equipment, used in agricultural operations for the production of food and fibre (examples include livestock feeding systems, livestock watering and waste handling systems, crop dryers, milling systems, material handling equipment, etc).” This also includes augers and irrigation equipment found on Manitoba farms.
A listing of common farmstead equipment examples appears in Appendix III.
The enforcement date for equipment travelling on public roads in Manitoba is July 1, 1998.
Equipment operators and owners are responsible for ensuring that existing and new equipment meet the requirements. Operators and owners are also responsible for maintaining lighting and marking equipment on both existing and new implements to ensure they continue to meet the requirements. Your dealership or lighting supplier can help you get the lighting and marking equipment you need to comply with the regulation.
When purchasing equipment from a dealership, ensure it is adequately marked and lit before moving it from the lot. Prudent machinery dealers should help ensure equipment they sell is in compliance with the new Manitoba regulation.
Owner/operators are not required to install permanent “hard wiring” on existing equipment. The regulation allows for portable tail lamp(s) and flashing extremity warning lamps in all situations involving existing equipment. That’s because existing equipment is exempt from the unison flashing requirement for extremity lighting. Portable lighting can also be moved from one implement to another for road travel, as needed.
However, hard wiring will be required on new equipment in order to meet the unison flashing requirement.
Unison flashing extremity lighting on new equipment
It’s important to be as visible as possible, and to be recognized by other drivers for the size and position of your equipment on a road. Studies have shown that unison flashing lights are better than independently flashing lights for achieving this purpose.
The equipment owner/operator is responsible for ensuring that unison flashing lights (on equipment that requires it) are maintained and operational when travelling on public roads.
Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI)
PAMI is working in cooperation with Manitoba Highways and Transportation to deliver the BE SEEN, BE SAFE! safety message to Manitoba producers and farm equipment owners and operators.
Manitoba Highways and Transportation personnel, together with representatives of farm groups, law enforcement, and the manufacturing sector, have worked hard to develop a regulation that balances the need for safe transport of farm equipment on roads with the need to keep compliance costs to the owner/operator at a minimum.
Some individuals may seek an extra measure of visibility and safety. Guidelines on how to improve visibility and safety beyond the requirements of the Lighting and Marking Regulation are highlighted by PAMI recommendations throughout this booklet. Some of these recommendations are based on provisions now being considered for future updates to the standard. These recommendations are summarized in Appendix V, Table 4.
PAMI believes these recommendations are of sufficient merit to be considered by the safety conscious farmer. Manitoba Highways and Transportation fully supports the PAMI recommendations.
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