Quote:
Originally Posted by Nate
Those of us in farm country are probably familiar with the tall fields of corn and other tall crops now gracing the countryside. Being cognizant of this myself, I still had a close call at a normally open intersection that is now blind on one corner from a corn field.
It's a gravel road all directions and the cross road to my path has yield signs, but I'm quite aware that in the countryside if one doesn't see a dust cloud, the yield sign may often be ignored. So I'm approaching the intersection about 35 MPH and and check to my left and see it is clear as well as ahead of the intersection and simultaneously disengage the clutch and drop a couple of gears and concentrate to my right. Just then a slowing car comes into view and the driver was, thankfully, doing the same thing and looking to his left and stopped. I grabbed both brakes and slowed, he waved and I proceeded on through giving him a wave.
I don't wish to call attention to my close call as I've been expecting a close call at this intersection no matter what I've been driving for the past month or so. I want to call attention to those intersections that now have lowered visibility due to crops, trees, or tall grass or weeds. Those are among the hazards we need to watch out for no matter what vehicle we're operating.
I am thankful that the other driver was being cautious at this intersection which is normally quite open. Had he not been slowing I probably would have watched him go across in front of me as I was preparing to stop if needed.
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I often ride down in rural PA when I visit my sister, so I know what you're talking about. The corn is high there right now.
Around my own area, the trees and hedges near the edges of roads and driveways often obsure dangers, as well.
A good reminder for those that tend to ride familiar routes on "auto-pilot".