Drivers on area highways are being cautioned to keep an eye out for farmers moving equipment as spring work gets underway.

High River RCMP Sgt. Brent Hawker says as the days get warmer farmers will be heading out to their fields to work.

"Farmers in Alberta will be returning to the land and with this comes the need  to move large pieces of equipment on both provincial and municipal highways," said Hawker. " Farm equipment is oversized and slow in comparison to other vehicles when using the same roads."

Two of the most common crashes involving farm equipment are single vehicle rollovers and multi-vehicle collisions.

Rollovers happen when the drivers turn a corner too fast, or loss of control with too heavy of a load, or when a tractor is too close to the ditch when the tractor is driven too close to the shoulder of the road and they hit a soft spot.

Multi-vehicle collisions happen when farm equipment is hit when they turn onto a highway, when a motorist attempts to pass or when a driver misjudges the speed of the equipment on the highway and runs into the back of it.

The best safety practices includes making farm equipment visible and safe, follow at a safe distance and motorists driving defensively.

"Make it safe and make it visible, ensure your farm equipment is as visible as possible," Hawker said.

Farmers should avoid busy roads if possible, use trained and licensed drivers and travel at speeds that allow you to maintain complete control at all times.