Of last year’s 30,000 accidents nationwide involving farm equipment and other slow-moving vehicles, two occurred in Douglas County.

And for county officials, that’s two too many.

Wednesday night, Douglas County commissioners approved spending up to $1,740 for an advertising and educational campaign to help drivers understand the danger of sharing rural roads with combines, grain trucks and other equipment during the spring planting season and summer harvest.

“People need to be more aware on the roads,” said Keith Browning, the county’s director of Public Works. “Farms are tending to get bigger. Equipment’s getting bigger. Our traffic’s getting heavier. There are more opportunities for accidents.

“If we can help prevent even one accident, it’s worth it.”

The county’s Traffic Safety Advisory Committee came up with the campaign, as Browning and other members decided that the increasing movement of city dwellers into rural areas heightened the chances of conflicts between fast-moving cars and slow-moving equipment.

Committee members intend to finance the campaign with donations from area insurance companies, but commissioners agreed that the county would cover any shortfall.

Even if the best solution is a simple dose of common sense.

“With those farm vehicles, it’s just a matter of being patient,” said Commissioner Bob Johnson, who noted that passing a combine doesn’t make much sense when it’s only going to be on the road for a few minutes anyway. “You have to be patient.”

Informational posters will be displayed in county offices, plus grocery stores and other gathering places popular among rural residents.

In other action, commissioners:

 Agreed to accept public comment May 15 regarding plans for a new freeway along U.S. Highway 59 between Lawrence and Ottawa. Commissioners want to hear whether people would prefer a new freeway 300 feet east of the existing highway or a full mile to the east. Commissioners intend to select a preferred route and pass along a recommendation to state and federal highway officials, who will make the final decision.

 Proclaimed May as Bicycle Safety Month.