DE Organizations warn that water irrigation can be hazardous for roadways
DELAWARE – Delaware State Police reported more than 3 thousand traffic accidents in 2021 from wet roadways and 19 of them were fatal.
Because Delmarva is heavily populated with farming many farmers irrigate their crops to keep them healthy but when the water runs over it creates those accidents. The Delaware Farm Bureau and Delaware State Police are on the same page, working together to fix the issue. Both organizations want farmers to take caution when watering their crops.
“We ask that motorists keep their heads on a swivel,” says Leonard DeMalto, the Public Information Officer for Delaware State Police.
Delaware State Police and the Delaware Farm Bureau are warning of the safety of water irrigation on roadways in the first state.
“The water that offshoots from the irrigation system can create an unexpected hazard for motorists especially motorcyclists and we’re just trying to minimize the risk of accident injury and also any potential liability for farmers down the line,” says Leonard DeMalto, the Public Information Officer for Delaware State Police.
And the Delaware Farm Bureau says the pivot system used to water crops is what causes the excess water on the roadways.
“The pivot goes around in a circle but you can imagine that if on this side there’s a road, the end gun shoots typically 100 feet that water is going to go out on the road,” says Don Clifton, the Executive Director of the Delaware Farm Bureau.
Farmers understand this is an issue however they need this process in order to produce a successful crop.
“One farmer told me that the irrigated corn that he has is doing very very well that it may yield 250 bushels per acre or better but some of the none irrigated may only be 50 to 75 bushels per acre,” says Don Clifton, the Executive Director of the Delaware Farm Bureau.
But police are urging that farmers take caution with their water systems so that law enforcement doesn’t have to get involved.
“It depends on where the accident occurs and the circumstances around it but our troopers that respond to these accidents on the roadways that are next to irrigation systems, if the trooper notices that the roadway is wet or flooded, they’re going to document that on their report even if it’s a bright sunny day,” says Leonard DeMalto, the Public Information Officer for Delaware State Police.
Though the Delmarva Peninsula sees an average of 45 inches of rain a year, which simply isn’t enough to keep the agricultural crops going. The Delaware Farm Bureau director says that farmers should also ensure their irrigation equipment is in operating condition. And farmers can minimize the water going out by putting specific mechanisms on their equipment so water does not spray the road.
Both DSP and the Delaware Farm Bureau are happy to see the community working together to keep all parties safe. It will take a team effort, however, the season to irrigate crops is almost over so they hope with the slow down it gets better and that fewer accidents occur.
