An Epidemiological Study of Roadway Fatalities Related to Farm Vehicles: United States, 1988 to 1993

Abstract

Compared with the estimated injury fatality rate for workers in all occupations (nine in 100,000 in 1988) the farm fatality rate (48 in 100,000) was among the highest in the nation; in 1993, these rates were eight and 35 in 100,000, respectively. On-road farm-vehicle fatalities have been identified as a significant problem, yet these events apparently have not been investigated in a comprehensive manner. The purpose of this study was to investigate the circumstances surrounding all on-road, non-truck, farm-vehicle crash fatalities in the United States form 1988 through 1993. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatal Accident Reporting System, which includes data for all US fatal on-road motor vehicle crashes, was the source of data. Driver-related variables were compared among farm vehicles, vehicles in collisions with farm vehicles, and all other vehicles in rural, fatal crashes; environmental variables were compared between rural farm-vehicle and non-farm-vehicle crashes. During 1988 to 1993, in rural areas, 444 farm-vehicle occupants were killed; in addition, 238 occupants of other vehicles or pedestrians were killed in collisions with the farm vehicles. The farm vehicles were disproportionately involved in overturns, rear-end collisions, and incidents in which the injured person fell from the vehicle, when compared with all other non-farm vehicles involved in rural-area fatal crashes. Of the farm vehicles involved in fatal crashes at night, dawn, or dusk, 65% were struck in the rear, compared with 4% of vehicles involved in fatal non-farm-vehicle crashes. Compared with drivers in all other rural crashes, farm-vehicle operators were more likely to be male, have a greater proportion of convictions for driving while intoxicated, and a lower proportion of previous speeding convictions. From this initial investigation, it appears that the fatal-crash involvement of farm vehicles are related to vehicle and environmental factors that are changeable. Given the proportion of overturns associated with farm-vehicle crashes (21%) compared with non-farm vehicles (9%), there is a need to investigate design characteristics of the farm vehicles. The large proportion of farm vehicles struck in the rear during daylight (24%) as well as night, dawn, or dusk hours (65%), compared with non-farm vehicles (4% and 4%, respectively), suggest factors related to visibility and perception of the farm vehicles' speed that provide a basis for further study.

The Changing Nature of Rural Health Care

“…The rural environment, especially where agriculture, mining, forestry, and fishing are important or dominant parts of the economy, presents extraordinary threats to health (33,105). Agriculture brings the use of pesticides and herbicides as well as heavy and potentially dangerous machinery.…”

The effects of roadway characteristics on farm equipment crashes: a geographic information systems approach

“…All in 10 s, a driver must analyze the situation to identify the potential hazard and determine an adequate reaction, which may not be sufficient time to prevent a crash. The substantial difference in speed provides a plausible explanation for rear-end collisions (20–62%) being the most frequent type of farm equipment crashes in prior studies (Gerberich et al 1996; Gkritza et al 2010) and the high number of “failure to reduce speed” violations received by non-farm vehicle drivers (Hughes & Rodgman 2000). …”

“…According to the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) crash reports from 2004 to 2014, 2108 farm equipment crashes occurred on public roadways that resulted in 660 injuries and 79 fatalities (Iowa Department of Transportation 2015). Operating tractors and other slow-moving farm equipment on public roadways places agricultural workers at risk for collisions (Gerberich et al 1996) and injuries. However, farm equipment crashes are not only an occupational hazard but also pose a significant threat to non-agriculture road users.…”

“…The few agriculture transportation-based studies report that farm equipment crashes frequently occur on roads with greater traffic volume (Costello et al 2009), unpaved roads (Gerberich et al 1996), roads in urban zip codes (Harland et al 2014), two-lanes or county highways, and on roads with 55 mph posted speed limits (Gerberich et al 1996; Peek-Asa et al 2007; Gkritza et al 2010). Although these studies have contributed to our knowledge concerning the challenges of operating farm equipment on roadways, there are important limitations to consider.…”

Risk factors for a farm vehicle public road crash

“…Although farmers and agricultural health and safety experts are aware of the dangers involved in operating farm vehicles on public roads, few empirical studies of farm vehicle public road crashes have been conducted : Gerberich et al, 1996McCurdy and Carroll, 2000). Thus, transportation related accident and injury reduction frameworks and literature were used to identify potentially relevant risk factors.…”