Heads Up, Drivers! Kerr County Crews are Busy Mowing by Local Roads
Kerr County Road and Bridge is urging drivers around the area this month to pay attention and watch out for crews busy mowing along county roadways.
Each year in the United States, there are an estimated 15,000 total collisions between motorists and slow-moving farm and maintenance vehicles, including tractors equipped with roadside boom or rotary mowers, according to the National Safety Council. Additionally, there are 50 fatalities of tractor and mower operators each year as a result of collisions with motor vehicles or trains, the NSC said.
“Our workers mow the county’s right-of-way areas twice a year – in the summer and again in the fall -- and it generally takes us about two months each time to get our coverage area finished. We expect to be out working around the county through the month of July,” said Kerr County Road and Bridge Road Administrator Kelly Hoffer.
The county department is responsible for maintaining 465 miles of linear roadways and rights-of-way. Part of that upkeep is the county’s vegetative control program, which involves mowing shoulders to improve driver visibility, reduce wildlife hazards, maintain drainage, protect road infrastructure, preserve the shoulder for use in emergencies, improve access for emergency responders and utility crews and to enhance the beauty of our Hill Country roads.
“Most people go to work and can reasonably rely on a safe environment. For our workers, their place on the roadside shoulder is a high-risk office. All it takes is a driver going just a few miles over the speed limit or glancing down to read a text for things to turn deadly in seconds,” Hoffer said.
“Please, everybody, keep your eyes up and pay attention,” Hoffer said. “When you see indicators that there are mowers at work, drop your speed, move over a lane if safe to do so and watch for flying debris.”
Texas law directs motorists approaching a highway maintenance vehicle with activated flashing blue or amber hazard lights to move over one full lane or slow down to 20 miles per hour below the posted speed limit. Those who fail to do so might face a penalty of $1,250 for a first offense.
“Our county workers are trying their best to keep our county-maintained roads safe and clear for you. Let’s all do our part to make sure they get home safely to their families, too,” Hoffer said.
The next mowing session for Kerr County crews is expected to start in October.