Study investigates tractor operation safety for young farmers

Posted by IronPlanet on Sep 5, 2012 1:11:00 AM

Farming is often a family business, and many farmers put their kids to work in the fields. Eventually, these children may be asked to drive tractors and operate other agriculture equipment. However, deciding when a child is ready to undertake this responsibility can be difficult. Researchers in Iowa are setting out on a new study using a driving simulator to find a way to assess the driving skills of youngsters who work on farms, according to The Associated Press.

Tractor accidents are the leading cause of fatalities on farms, and children are often involved in these tragic accidents, the U.S. Department of Labor states. Farming injuries are also far more common among children 15 and younger than adults, which is why it is so important for parents and bosses of younger farm workers to take caution when deciding if a child is ready to operate tractors, harvesters and other equipment.

While there are safety regulations in place that provide some guidelines, the researchers are looking to other methods of determining a child's ability to drive a tractor while also having to make decisions at different ages. Using the National Advanced Driving Simulator in Coralville, Iowa, the researchers hope to be able to revise voluntary guidelines to ensure safer operation of tractors and other machines, the news source reports.

The 88 farm children taking part in the study are between the ages of 10 and 17. They will simulate a variety of farming exercises, including mowing fields, driving on gravel roads, merging in traffic and maneuvering around people and vehicles. After the simulations are completed, the researchers will analyze the collected data, looking at the speed, brake usage, acceleration and even the kids' eye movements. They will compare the information to that of 10 adults farmers

"Our goal is to try to develop knowledge that makes it easier to prevent these accidents," Tim Brown, a researcher from the University of Iowa who helps to run the simulator, told the news provider.

There are a number of regulations in place concerning the age young farmers must be in order to use agriculture equipment. Federal laws allow children to begin driving tractors at the age of 14, just as soon as they receive their certification. However, the news source indicates the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents wait until their youngsters are 16. The study investigators hope that the information they collect will help determine a better method for determine when it is safe to allow children to operate machinery.

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