BOISE, Idaho — Drivers who've lived in the gem state for some, may have already encountered obstacles in rural areas. For newcomers, these counters might come as a surprise.
"Today, it's tough because not only do you have traffic challenges, but you have different drivers," longtime Idaho resident Melissa Putnam told KTVB.
Farming runs in Idaho's blood just like the Snake River flows through the state, so it's common to see farm equipment and cattle in rural parts of the state. But what are you supposed to do in those situations? KTVB spoke with experts on tips for driving around those obstacles.
Slow Moving Vehicles
For Idaho farmers, springtime means tractors and large arm equipment are often out on rural roads.
"We don't get to decide when things get done necessarily," Wes Freeman, Row Crop Manager at Obendorf Farm in Parma said. "Mother Nature decides when things get done. And we have to be prepared and willing to do that."
At Obendorf Farm, they're planting crops for hops, onions, sugar beets, corn, wheat, and seed corn.
Rural roads and bridges are often narrow, making it a challenge for wide farm equipment to travel between fields.
"We do farm right next to Highway 95 on both sides, east and west of the highway," Freeman said. "So, when needing to cross the highway or move to the next field, our equipment takes up a lot of room."
The Obendorf tractors often encounter other drivers on the road, which brings impatience. During one fall harvest, they had an accident. Their tractor was loaded with equipment, some of it even having to stick out, Freeman said. The tractor was going down a hill, attempting to pass a house with large trees out front.
"We had a person that decided that they didn't want to wait at the bottom of the hill and try to come up the hill," Freeman said. "And in turn, they weren't able to get over far enough and our guy was stuck in a spot. And he had to go really slow to try to get by him. Well, the implement shifted just a few inches, and accidentally hit that person."
Freeman stated they try and get out of other drivers' way. But they have to pull over in the right spot.
"We'll be going one way, and they'll park right next to a telephone pole, well then there's not enough room, or vice versa, they'll be on the opposite side of the road from the telephone pole, and we still can't get around them, or a mailbox," Freeman said.
Idaho State Police said drivers should only be passing slow vehicles when it's safe to do so.
"Everybody needs to drive with caution," Trooper Brent Moore with ISP District 3 told KTVB. "More defensively, I understand everybody's in a hurry, but that's how accidents wind up happening."
Livestock - Open Range Laws
In Idaho, certain parts of the state are considered "open-range" - where livestock are free to roam, including on roads and highways.
If a driver hits an animal in open range, the driver is responsible for the damage to their car, according to Idaho Farm Bureau.
The driver can also be liable to pay for the loss of the animal if the jury finds the driver at fault, they said.
The current price for a cow is about $1,800-$2,000.
Freeman emphasizes farmers aren't trying to slow anyone down.
"We're just trying to get our job done, go home... we want everyone else to be able to go home that day as well," he said.
Watch more Local News:
See the latest news from around the Treasure Valley and the Gem State in our YouTube playlist:
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET NEWS FROM KTVB:
Download the KTVB News Mobile App
Apple iOS: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Watch news reports for FREE on YouTube: KTVB YouTube channel
Stream Live for FREE on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching 'KTVB'.
Stream Live for FREE on FIRE TV: Search ‘KTVB’ and click ‘Get’ to download.