Kentucky Injury Prevention
and Research Center Publicaions

Fatal Incidents Involving Farm Equipment on Public Roadways

Reed DK, Struttmann TW

Data linkage of the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and the Fatality Assessment Control Evaluation (FACE) for occupational fatalities in Kentucky revealed agriculture as the second highest Industry and Occupation for work-related roadway fatalities in Kentucky from 1994-97.

Farm equipment on public roadways pose a hazard to not only the operator but also the rural driving population. Between 1994-97, there were 430 fatal motor vehicle crashes (MVC) involving farm equipment on US roadways. California, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Texas, Indiana, and Minnesota lead the nation in number of fatal MVCs involving farm equipment.

Based on the number of farms in each of these states, the leading states were California, Indiana, and Wisconsin. Rates per 10,000 rural roadway miles were 30.7 for California, 21.32 for Wisconsin, and 20.91 for Indiana. Based on the number of wheeled tractors per farm, the leading states were California, Texas, and Kentucky. Kentucky had the most incidents per 1,000,000 licensed drivers with 7.95; Minnesota had 6.97/1,000,000; and Indiana 5.03/1,000,000.

From the 430 fatal MVCs, 281 cases involved farm equipment vs. a motor vehicle in transport. In 51.6% of these cases, the farm equipment driver was not injured. 30.6% of the farm equipment drivers were killed. This suggests the driver and passengers of a motor vehicle in such an incident are in danger of losing their lives. Over half of these incidents involved a motor vehicle rear-ending the farm equipment. Interventions must focus on all rural drivers as well as farmers.

Comments to Mark Schneider, Last Modified: July 9, 2001 by JP
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