Lighting and Marking Self-Propelled Equipment Fatality File

Farm Machinery Causes Terrible Accidents and Injuries 

In December 2018, the driver of a tractor died when he was hit from behind by a dump truck in Peach County. Police said the driver of the dump truck failed to see the tractor on the rural road until it was too late. Georgia State Patrol said the tractor lacked the lights or reflective safety equipment on the back that are required by law.

Farm machinery accidents happen far too often in Georgia. On occasions, the equipment fails to comply with regulations.

Accidents involving farm equipment often occur early in the morning or at sunset as was the case in the recent wreck in Peach County.

Farmers frequently move equipment around at these times but the lack of natural lighting means farm workers are sitting targets. The low speed most tractors operate at puts farmer workers at risk. Often fast-moving vehicles have little time to brake when they round a curve and encounter farm machinery.

Head-on collisions are also common in these scenarios as drivers attempt to overtake slow-moving tractors. If you can’t see the road beyond a piece of farm machinery, don’t take the risk of overtaking.

Tractors are the most deadly piece of machinery.

Farm workers suffer injury and deaths in tractor rollovers as well as road accidents.

Driving a tractor on a slope, a slippery or rough terrain is a dangerous undertaking. Pulling a heavy load increases the dangers because the tractor can become unbalanced.