Tall corn can mean risky driving

With Iowa corn, knee-high by the Fourth of July can quickly turn to mirror high by the end of July and create vision problems for motorists. 
Franklin County Sheriff Aaron Dodd said the best way to navigate tall corn at intersections is to simply be cautious and wait. 
“A lot of people get used to expecting being able to see other cars and going through intersections,” he said. “Always yield at unmarked intersections and even at stop signs, you really have to creep out in order to see what’s coming.”
He added that drivers should also ditch the notion that dust is an indicator whether a car is coming or not.
“I’ve heard that before and the driver didn’t anticipate a car being there,” he said. “They’re looking for dust and using that as their green light to go if they don’t see it.”
The presence of dust, he said, can also create issues.
“If the wind is at the right direction, you’re not sure if there’s a car behind that cloud of dust,” he said. “ A lot of times if we see an accident involving dust, it might include farm machinery that people came up on too fast.”
Dodd said that the sheriff’s office does respond to accidents related to obstruction from crops “at least once a summer” and those incidents often involve teenagers. He encouraged parents and guardians to instruct their kids to use extra caution when approaching obstructed intersections. 
“I would encourage people that if they have a younger driver to really send that message home to make sure they know and are checking those intersections,” he said.
Aside from crops and farm equipment, Dodd said the summer can pose additional driving threats that motorists need heed. Construction seasons, he said, is a common time for accidents. 
“Give those people (construction workers) room and know you might have to sit in your lane for oncoming traffic,” he said. “Be patient and look for signage.”
The heat, such as the near-triple digits that hit Franklin County last week, can also create some problems. Like winter driving, Dodd urged motorists to be prepared for the conditions should their vehicle have an issue.
“Make sure you’re staying hydrated and carry plenty of water,” he said. “Stay with your car and if you don’t have a phone, try to flag someone down.”
Dodd said that the best way to stay safe in an emergency in high heat is to stay put and not walk for help.
“With your car, you at least have shade and protection,” he said. “If you start walking down the road, it doesn’t take long and you can get pretty worn out quickly.”

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