Latvia harvest season prompts driver safety warnings

The 2024 harvest season has begun across Latvian regions, with farmers harvesting winter wheat and preparing for summer crops such as rapeseed, wheat, rye and peas. The increase in combines, tractors and freight trucks on the roads is expected to continue through July, August and possibly into mid‑September.

The farmers' association “Zemnieku saeima” urges motorists to exercise heightened caution, noting that large machinery can be up to four metres wide and travel at no more than 30 km/h, making overtaking and lane changes difficult. Drivers are advised to ensure sufficient road width, avoid overtaking on narrow sections, and be aware that dust on gravel roads can impair visibility. The association and the director of the Safe Driving School call for strict adherence to traffic rules to prevent accidents during the intensive agricultural traffic period.