UI study: New lights, reflectors could cut farm-vehicle accidents by more than half
University of Iowa College of Public Health researchers found that Midwestern traffic accidents involving farm vehicles would drop by more than 50 percent if state policies required more lighting and reflectors on the equipment.
The study by the college’s Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health, published in the current issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, compared rates of farm equipment-related crashes in nine Midwestern states. Those states report an average of more than 1,100 farm vehicle-related crashes per year.
Using data from 2005 to 2010, researchers estimate the number of accidents annually would be cut 60 percent, from 972 to 385, if states implemented policies that increased compliance with ASABE standards by 25 percent over current policies. In Iowa, crashes would decrease from an annual average of 164 to an estimated 65.
The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers has issued standards on lighting and marking farm vehicles to promote safety among all roadway users. The standards suggest certain numbers of headlights, taillights, turn signals and other exterior lighting visible to other drivers, as well as the number and size of reflective markers.
Marizen Ramirez, UI professor of occupational and environmental health and lead investigator on the study, said in a statement that many drivers incorrectly gauge the speed at which farm equipment is moving. Often vehicles then veer out to pass in dangerous conditions.
Trending News
