#### Facts about Tractor/Motor Vehicle Collisions

![](media/image2.wmf)

During a highway collision with a motor vehicle, a ROPS and

seat belt can be the difference between life and death!

##### CONTENTS

Facts about Tractor/Motor Vehicle Collisions
[2](#facts-about-tractormotor-vehicle-collisions-1)

Newspaper Clippings [3](#newspaper-clippings)

Kentucky Fatality Investigations [5](#kentucky-fatality-investigations)

A Study of Ohio Tractor and Motor Vehicle Crashes
[6](#a-study-of-ohio-tractor-and-motor-vehicle-crashes)

Studies of Iowa Tractor and Motor Vehicle Crashes
[9](#studies-of-iowa-tractor-and-motor-vehicle-crashes)

Getting Tractor/Motor Vehicle Collision Data for Your Area
[12](#getting-tractormotor-vehicle-collision-data-for-your-area)

Using the Evaluation Questionnaire
[12](#using-the-evaluation-questionnaire)

Tractor/Motor Vehicle Collision Evaluation Questionnaire
[13](#tractormotor-vehicle-collision-evaluation-questionnaire)

# Facts about Tractor/Motor Vehicle Collisions [^1]

Deadly tractor/motor vehicle collisions are increasing in the United
States for three reasons. First, more people are moving to the country
and commuting to work in distant towns and cities.

Second, two-lane rural roads have been improved to permit high-speed
driving. These improvements make the roads safer, but excessive speed
creates hazards like those described in these materials, especially when
highways run through farming communities.

Third, many farmers own or lease land not connected to their main farm.
They have to drive farm equipment on public roadways to reach this land.

It appears that these collisions are becoming more deadly for occupants
of motor vehicles and somewhat less deadly for tractor operators. There
are two reasons for this. First, tractors are becoming larger. Second,
newer and larger tractors are equipped with ROPS, seat belts, and often
have enclosed cabs. If the tractor operator stays inside the cab and is
held by a fastened seat belt within the frame of safety provided by the
ROPS, he or she has a good chance of surviving even very severe crashes.

The materials that follow are real cases of tractor/motor vehicle
collisions like the one described in the "No Way to Meet a Neighbor"
exercise. The sources are newspaper clippings, an official fatality
investigation, and three major studies of tractor and motor vehicle
highway collisions.

## Newspaper Clippings

The three newspaper stories that follow describe common types of tractor
and motor vehicle collisions. The names of the people and communities
have been changed.

The following news story describes an event that occurred in Iowa in
1989. It shows that a ROPS and fastened seat belt can be the difference
between life and death for the tractor operator, even in high-speed and
very destructive tractor/motor vehicle collisions.

##   {#section .unnumbered}

## Kentucky Fatality Investigations

The Kentucky Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (KY FACE)
Projectis located at the University of Kentucky. Project staff
investigate many farm fatalities in the state as well as other
occupational fatalities. The reports from these investigations help to
identify people at greatest risk of specific types of injuries (like
tractor overturns) and also help to develop strategies to prevent these
fatalities and injuries in the future. The summary that follows was
taken from a fatality report on the KY FACE website. The full report and
all other agricultural fatality reports from 1994 to the present are
available on-line at Internet address
**http://www.kiprc.uky.edu/oipp/face.htm**

## A Study of Ohio Tractor and Motor Vehicle Crashes

Collisions involving 1,432 Ohio farm vehicles and other motor vehicles
were analyzed for a four-year period (1989-1992). The results are
summarized below.[^2]

The last sentence in the above summary suggests that most tractor/motor
vehicle crashes (like the one depicted in the "No Way to Meet a
Neighbor" exercise) happen to ordinary people engaged in ordinary daily
driving activity. If you don't live on a farm and drive a tractor, why
should you know about tractors and farm equipment traveling on public
roads? Because the life you save may be your own! If Sam had known more
about farming, stopping times, and had paid attention, he and Jake would
not have died in the collision. Their families could have been spared
the tragic loss of loved ones. Jake could have helped too! He could have
anticipated that many drivers are like Sam, that is, they are good
people with good intentions, but know little about farming and often
fail to recognize highway hazards related to farm vehicles.

Figure 1 is a pie chart that shows the frequency of Ohio farm vehicle
(mainly tractors) and motor vehicle crashes under different light
conditions. Figure 2 is a pie chart that shows that left turns (like the
case described in the "No Way to Meet a Neighbor" exercise) account for
52% of these crashes. Both figures are from the Ohio study.

![](media/image3.emf)

Figure 1: Percent of Ohio farm vehicle and motor vehicle collisions by
light conditions

Most tractor/motor vehicle collisions occur during daylight hours from
3:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. Most of these crashes involve a motor vehicle
traveling straight ahead at a high speed. The crash often occurs when
the tractor and trailing farm equipment make a left turn, resulting in a
collision such as the one depicted in the "No Way to Meet a Neighbor"
exercise (see Figures 2 and 3 in the exercise). During daylight hours,
only 8% of the collisions are rear-end crashes in which the farm
equipment is struck from behind by an approaching motor vehicle.

![](media/image4.emf)

Figure 2: Percent of Ohio farm vehicle and motor vehicle daylight
collisions by farm equipment travel direction

## Studies of Iowa Tractor and Motor Vehicle Crashes

In Iowa collisions involving 1,490 farm vehicles and other motor
vehicles were analyzed for a five-year period (1988-1992). The data were
gathered from Iowa law enforcement files for events involving over \$500
in property damage and for every incident that resulted in a personal
injury.[^3] The results of this study are summarized below.

Figure 3 on the next page is a pie chart that shows the frequency of
Iowa farm vehicle (mainly tractors) and motor vehicle crashes under
different light conditions. Note the similarity of these data to the
Ohio study reported in Figure 1.

![](media/image5.wmf)

Figure 3: Percent of Iowa farm vehicle and motor vehicle collisions by
light conditions

Another study was conducted of the 136 Iowa 1988-92 agricultural
tractor-related fatalities. Tractor/motor vehicle collisions that
resulted in fatalities to the tractor operator or to the occupants of
the motor vehicles were included in this study.[^4] The results are
summarized below.

## Getting Tractor/Motor Vehicle Collision Data for Your Area

Information about tractor/motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) in and around
communities can help communicate the risks of these crashes to local
drivers and farmers. The information can lead to increased awareness,
better defensive driving, and a possible reduction of these injury
events.

The statistics for tractor and motor vehicle crashes in your area can be
obtained by following these steps.

1\. Contact the state police highway safety department. Find out which
state agency is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and reporting
information on motor vehicle crashes.

2\. Call this agency and ask for a breakdown of motor vehicle crashes
involving farm equipment. If you want specific information (e.g. time of
day, month, roadway involved, weather conditions, etc.), clearly
describe what you want and make a follow-up request in writing. Most
agencies will cooperate and grant your request, especially if you tell
them that you are using the information for a community education
activity.

3\. Allow plenty of time for the agency to respond to your request. Most
agencies are busy and are about a year behind in tabulating these types
of figures. If you call and request information for the current year,
you will most likely receive those figures the next year.

4\. In most cases you can get information as specific as you want or
need. For example, tractor and motor vehicle crashes on specific
highways, in certain counties, or even for smaller geographic areas.

## Using the Evaluation Questionnaire

The evaluation questionnaire on the next page can be administered to
people who have read this document or listened to a presentation of the
material. The questionnaire solicits three types of information. These
are the participants' (a) demographic characteristics, (b) involvement
in tractor/motor vehicle collisions and close calls, and (c) their
evaluation of the value of the material and its impact upon their
thinking and future highway driving behavior.

## Tractor/Motor Vehicle Collision Evaluation Questionnaire

(Please complete this questionnaire after you have finished this
activity.)

  ------ -------------------------- --------------- ------ ----- ------------------ ---------- ------ --------------------
  1\.    Activity: *[Tractor/Motor                         2\.   What year were you                   
         Vehicle                                                 born?                                
         Collisions]{.underline}*                                19\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                     

  3\.    Your sex? (check one)                             4\.   Do you work on a                     
         \_\_\_\_ M \_\_\_\_ F                                   farm? \_\_\_\_ Yes                   
                                                                 \_\_\_\_ No                          

  5\.    Acres currently farmed?                           6\.   Do you drive a                       
         \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                                        tractor? \_\_\_\_                    
                                                                 Yes \_\_\_\_ No                      

  7\.    If "Yes," how many days a                         8\.   Years experience                     
         month? \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                                 tractor driving?                     
                                                                 \_\_\_\_\_\_\_                       

  9\.    Do you drive tractors on   \_\_\_\_ Yes    10\.         Years you have had                   \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
         public roads?              \_\_\_\_ No                  a driver's                           
                                                                 license?                             

  11\.   Have you ever been                                                         \_\_\_\_          
         involved in collisions                                                     Yes               
         between a tractor and a                                                    \_\_\_\_          
         motor vehicle on a public                                                  No                
         highway?                                                                                     

  12\.   If "Yes" to item 11, time                                                                    
         of day a collision                                                                           
         occurred? Hour                                                                               
         \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_                                                                           
         \_\_\_\_ AM \_\_\_\_ PM                                                                      

  13\.   If "Yes", to item 11, was                                                                    
         anyone injured? \_\_\_\_                                                                     
         Yes \_\_\_\_ No                                                                              

  14\.   If "Yes" to item 13, who                                                                     
         was injured? \_\_\_\_                                                                        
         Motor Vehicle occupant                                                                       
         \_\_\_\_ Tractor driver or                                                                   
         rider                                                                                        

  15\.   Have you ever almost had a                                                                   
         collision between a                                                                          
         tractor and a motor                                                                          
         vehicle? \_\_\_\_ Yes                                                                        
         \_\_\_\_ No                                                                                  

  16\.   If "Yes" to item 15, were                                                                    
         you in the motor vehicle                                                                     
         or on the tractor?                                                                           
         \_\_\_\_ In MV \_\_\_ On                                                                     
         tractor                                                                                      
  ------ -------------------------- --------------- ------ ----- ------------------ ---------- ------ --------------------

Think about the activity you just finished. Circle the number that tells
how much you agree or disagree with the following statements.

  ------------ --------------- --------------------------------------------------- --- ---------- --- --- --- --- ---------- --- ---
  Statements                                                                           Strongly                   Strongly       
                                                                                       Disagree                   Agree          

  17\.                         The situations described in this activity can           1              2       3                  4
                               happen to my loved ones or me.                                                                    

  18\.                         This activity taught me ways to avoid collisions        1              2       3                  4
                               like the ones described.                                                                          

  19\.                         During a highway crash a ROPS and fastened seat         1              2       3                  4
                               belt can keep the tractor operator from being                                                     
                               injured.                                                                                          

  20\.                         Farmers who drive tractors on highways should have      1              2       3                  4
                               ROPS on their tractors.                                                                           

  21\.                         Farmers should always wear their seat belts while       1              2       3                  4
                               driving tractors with ROPS.                                                                       

  22\.                         This activity will help me to be a more alert and       1              2       3                  4
                               cautious driver.                                                                                  

  23\.                         The activity took too long to complete.                 1              2       3                  4

  24\.                         The activity materials were easy to understand.         1              2       3                  4

  25\.                         I had a chance to discuss and share my ideas during     1              2       3                  4
                               the activity.                                                                                     

  26\.                         Most tractor/motor vehicle collisions occur in          1              2       3                  4
                               broad daylight.                                                                                   

  27\.                         Most tractor/motor vehicle accidents are rear end       1              2       3                  4
                               collisions.                                                                                       

  28\.         Tractor/motor                                                       1              2       3                  4   
               vehicle                                                                                                           
               collisions have                                                                                                   
               decreased in                                                                                                      
               the last 10                                                                                                       
               years.                                                                                                            

  29\.         Many city                                                           1              2       3                  4   
               drivers don't                                                                                                     
               know how to                                                                                                       
               drive safely                                                                                                      
               through farm                                                                                                      
               country.                                                                                                          

  30\.         I learned                                                           1              2       3                  4   
               important                                                                                                         
               things from                                                                                                       
               this activity                                                                                                     
               that I will                                                                                                       
               tell other                                                                                                        
               people.                                                                                                           
  ------------ --------------- --------------------------------------------------- --- ---------- --- --- --- --- ---------- --- ---

If you have other comments, please write them on the bottom and back of
this page.

[^1]: Developed September-November 1997 by Henry P. Cole, Carol J.
    Lehtola, Shannon R. Thomas, and Melody Hadley at a two-day workshop
    titled "Translating Injury Surveillance Data into Health and Safety
    Educational Materials and Activities for Farm Workers and Families"
    at the University of Florida, Biological and Agricultural
    Engineering Department. The workshop and the development of this
    simulation exercise were supported by CDC/NIOSH Cooperative
    Agreements U07/CCU408035-05-2 and U06/CCU412900-01, 02, 03 awarded
    to the University of Kentucky, Southeast Center for Agricultural
    Health and Injury Prevention. The views expressed in this document
    are those of the authors and not necessarily those of CDC/NIOSH or
    the US Government.

[^2]: From Glascock, L.A., Wood, R.K., Carpenter, T.G. & Holmes, R.G.
    (1993). [Characteristics of SMV accidents]{.underline}. Paper
    presented at the December 14-17, 1993 Winter meeting of the American
    Society of Agricultural Engineers, Paper No. 931618, ASAE, 2950
    Niles Rd., St. Joseph, MI 49085-9659. See also Glascock, L.A., Bean,
    T.L., Wood, R.K., Carpenter, T.G., and Holmes, R.G. (1995). A
    summary of roadway accidents involving agricultural machinery.
    [Journal of Agricultural Safety & Health]{.underline}
    [1]{.underline} (2): 93-104.

[^3]: Flynn, D. (1994). [An analysis of farm vehicle-related accidents
    on Iowa roadways]{.underline}. Unpublished paper. Ames, Iowa:
    University of Iowa, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems
    Engineering.

[^4]: Lehtola, C.J., Marley, S.J., & Melvin, S.W. (1994). A study of
    five years of tractor-related fatalities in Iowa. [Applied
    Engineering in Agriculture,]{.underline} [10]{.underline} (5):
    627-632.