FACTS

Common Types of Accidents Caused by Driving Farm Vehicles In Rural Areas

1. Tractors and large equipment have a higher center of gravity, making them more prone to rollovers on uneven terrain.
2. Farm vehicles typically move at slower speeds, which can lead to collisions with faster-moving vehicles.
3. Rural areas are home to wildlife, and collisions with animals crossing the road causes accidents.
4. Farm vehicles may overturn when driving on steep slopes, especially when carrying heavy loads.
5. Poor lighting conditions, fog, or other visual obstructions can lead to accidents.
6. Mechanical failures, such as brake failures or steering malfunctions, can result in accidents.
7. Improper loading of farm vehicles leads to imbalanced loads, causing potential accidents.
8. Accidents involving vehicles carrying agricultural chemicals can lead to environmental risks.
9. Accidents may occur when farm vehicles need to enter or exit highways.
10. Insufficient training in the operation of farm vehicles can lead to errors or unsafe driving practices.

STATS

• The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports that approximately 5.2 deaths per 100,000 farms occur each year due to traffic-related motor vehicle crashes.  Tractor rollovers account for one of every three farm worker fatalities, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Farm vehicle accidents were the cause of 30% or nearly a third of all fatal injuries on farms in the last five years. 48 people lost their lives in farm vehicle accidents.
• The National Agricultural Tractor Safety Initiative reports that tractors cause about 130 deaths annually – that’s 50% of all farm worker deaths each year.
• The U.S. Department of Labor (USDL) reports that 44% of farm accidents are due to tractor rollovers – making rollovers the most common type of tractor accident. According to the Canada Safety Council, most rollover fatalities in Canada involve tractors.
• Collisions with motor vehicles account for about 50 tractor operator deaths each year.
• Speeding is a safety problem on all types of roads, but especially in rural areas, where it was a factor in 27% of deaths. Nearly half (46%) of fatalities in crashes that involved speeding occurred on rural roads.