2 deaths in one county.

[The Haymaker]

Newcastle man dies in lawn tractor accident | The Morning Sentinel, Waterville, ME

 

[IslandTractor]

An 89yo and a 92yo both killed after losing control of and flipping riding lawn mowers. Maybe there is an age when we should stop operating dangerous machinery.

 

[rekees4300]

At least they passed with smiles on their faces ... better way to go than vegetating in some nursing home.

 

[soulasphil]

An 89yo and a 92yo both killed after losing control of and flipping riding lawn mowers. Maybe there is an age when we should stop operating dangerous machinery.

The problem is what age ? When we say that, we generally think of other people. I think the decision is very hard to take.

 

[IslandTractor]

The problem is what age ? When we say that, we generally think of other people. I think the decision is very hard to take.

I agree it is hard to set limits but would suggest that both 89 and 92 are on the wrong side of the dividing line for most individuals. I don't know if there is data on age versus tractor accidents but suspect it is like for motor vehicles. If so then pretty clearly there is increase risk starting at about 70. No one would suggest stopping at 70 but when the curve heads up (more accident risk) there might be some sort of public guidance. No license required to operate lawn mowers obviously but a public relations/public health campaign to make people think through the issue might help families decide.

 

[dave1949]

I was thinking 89 and 92 are a bit on the old side of safe too. It depends alot on the person of course. Reaction time, eyesight, sense of balance and overall judgment are a bit suspect at that age for most. If a bone gets broken, healing is poor too. Just being forced to sit around trying to heal can be the beginning of the end for an elderly person. If it were my parent, I would be strongly encouraging them to hire a neighbor kid or something if I lived too far away. I wonder if either was still driving a car?
Dave.

 

[Hematite]

I agree it is hard to set limits but would suggest that both 89 and 92 are on the wrong side of the dividing line for most individuals. I don't know if there is data on age versus tractor accidents but suspect it is like for motor vehicles. If so then pretty clearly there is increase risk starting at about 70. No one would suggest stopping at 70 but when the curve heads up (more accident risk) there might be some sort of public guidance. No license required to operate lawn mowers obviously but a public relations/public health campaign to make people think through the issue might help families decide.

That's for sure!

 

[davkir]

I'm only 60 so I have a way to go. But if you are doing something you like/want to do and there is little/no risk to other people, I hope no one ever says I can't because I'm too old.

 

[EE_Bota]

I'm only 60 so I have a way to go. But if you are doing something you like/want to do and there is little/no risk to other people, I hope no one ever says I can't because I'm too old.

I agree. Risk to others is the main thing.

I (perhaps) have several more years before I have to decide, but unless I change my mind, I am going to hire the neighbor kid to do the car driving, and I'll do the lawn mowing / tractor driving.

 

[IslandTractor]

I agree. Risk to others is the main thing. .

I agree too but I also think about what a sad thing it would be for the whole family to find granddad squashed under a tractor some day. Not the sort of family tradition one would like to remember. I'd say that while it is clearly granddad's choice it should be clear to his family what the risks and odds are so that they have a chance to talk to him about the choice. The risk to others is more than the risk of being run over by a mower.