(KIWA Staff Photo)
Orange City, Iowa (Sioux County Radio) — Tall corn is limiting sight lines at rural intersections across Sioux County, prompting the sheriff’s office to urge drivers to slow down and prepare to stop.
The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office says deputies have already responded to crashes at intersections where corn restricts motorists’ ability to see approaching vehicles. Sheriff Nate Huizenga says drivers should approach obstructed corners as though cross traffic could appear unexpectedly.
Dust May Not Provide a Warning
Huizenga says some drivers watch for dust clouds as a sign another vehicle is approaching, but that method isn’t always reliable.
He advises motorists to approach blind intersections slowly enough to stop if another vehicle enters the crossing — even if that means driving well below the posted limit.
The speed limit on Iowa gravel roads is 55 mph during the day and 50 mph at night, but the sheriff’s office emphasizes those are maximum limits and may not be safe when visibility, weather, or road conditions are poor. Huizenga also confirmed the newer 60-mph limit on some paved roads does not apply to gravel roads.
Concern Extends Into School Season
Huizenga says tall corn typically peaks from July through September, meaning visibility concerns will continue for at least the next couple of months. That period will soon overlap with the start of the school year, bringing more school buses and young drivers onto rural roads. The sheriff’s office plans to release additional back-to-school driving reminders in the coming weeks.
Huizenga says the time saved by speeding through a rural intersection is never worth the risk.
The sheriff’s office is asking drivers to slow down, make sure the road is clear, and be prepared to stop before entering intersections where corn blocks the view.
