Traffic Safety

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details on the consequences for drivers who do not comply with these rules.

Farm Equipment Safety Act

This bill amends Tennessee law to require drivers to slow down and change lanes safely when approaching a stationary or slow-moving farm tractor or equipment that displays special warning signs.

What This Bill Does

• Adds rules for drivers to follow when they see a slow-moving or stopped farm vehicle on the road.
• Requires drivers to reduce speed and, if safe, move into another lane when passing these vehicles.
• Defines what counts as a 'slow-moving vehicle indicator' for farm equipment.

Who It Names or Affects

• Drivers who see slow-moving or stopped farm tractors and equipment on the road.
• Farmers using special indicators to warn other drivers about their slow-moving or stationary vehicles.

Terms To Know

Slow-moving vehicle indicator

A sign or signal used by farmers to show that their farm equipment is moving slowly or has stopped on the road. This can be flashing hazard lights, red flags, fluorescent orange flags, or a reflective orange triangle.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if drivers do not follow these new rules.
• It's unclear how this will affect traffic flow in areas with many farms and farm equipment.

Official Summary Text

Upon approaching a
stationary recovery vehicle, highway maintenance vehicle, solid waste vehicle, utility service vehicle,
or stationary vehicle
when the vehicle is giving a signal by use of auth
orized flashing lights
or flashing hazard lights, present law requires
a person who drives an approaching vehicle
to proceed with due caution and take other measures described in present law, including changing lanes or reducing the speed of the vehicle if
changing lanes would be impossible.

This bill adds that, upon
approaching a slow-moving or stationary farm tractor or instrument of husbandry that is in an adjacent lane or on the shoulder of the road or highway and that displays a slow-moving vehicle
indicator, a person who drives an approaching vehicle
must
, proceeding with due caution, reduce the speed of the vehicle while maintaining a safe speed for road conditions, and, if possible, make a lane change with due regard to safety and traffic conditio
ns.
"Slow-moving vehicle indicator" includes (i) the use of flashing hazard lights, (ii) the display of two red flags or two florescent
orange flags, or a combination of such flags, that are each at least 18
inches
square, made of cloth, synthetic, or man
-made material
, or (iii) a slow-moving vehicle sign that is a reflective orange triangle.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL 1284
By Hill

SENATE BILL 1144
By Crowe

SB1144
002833
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 55,
relative to farm equipment.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 55-8-132(c), is amended by adding
the following language as a new subdivision (3):
(3)
(A) Upon approaching a slow-moving or stationary farm tractor or
instrument of husbandry that is in an adjacent lane or on the shoulder of the road
or highway and that displays a slow-moving vehicle indicator, a person who
drives an approaching vehicle shall, proceeding with due caution, reduce the
speed of the vehicle while maintaining a safe speed for road conditions, and, if
possible, make a lane change with due regard to safety and traffic conditions.
(B) For purposes of this subdivision (c)(3), "slow-moving vehicle
indicator" includes:
(i) The use of flashing hazard lights;
(ii) The display of two (2) red flags or two (2) fluorescent orange
flags, or a combination of such flags, that are each at least eighteen
inches (18") square, made of cloth, synthetic, or man-made material; or
(iii) A slow-moving vehicle sign that is a reflective orange triangle.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 2025, the public welfare requiring it.