Labor Department bans children from driving tractors

[Localmotion]

Here in Ontario, and much of Canada I believe, you're not allowed to drive ATV's or Jet Skis under 16. I know I'll take some heat for saying it, but I mostly agree with that, they're too fast and unstable for some kids and there have been a lot of young deaths to prove it. Tractors on the other hand should be left alone, they're a tool, and if treated with due respect, a fairly safe one. It's up to parents to educate kids on safe operation and make the judgment call for when they're ready.

I totally agree with you Kio - there is a big differance between a Jet Ski and a tractor... if properly trained and driven carefully, a tractor is far safer and more stable than an ATV or Jet Ski...

I fully expect to take some heat as well - maybe it's because in the UK our rules seem to be similar to yours. The UK minimum ages are:

12 - to ride in a tractor (assuming a proper passenger seat is fitted)
14 - to drive a tractor on private land
16 - to drive a tractor on the road (having passed a test)
16 - to drive an ATV on private land
17 - to drive a motor car / van under 3500kg
18 - to drive a vehicle over 3500kg or tow a trailer (both of which now require a seperate test to be taken).
18 - to drive an ATV on the road.
21 - to drive a HGV Truck (over 7500kg)

The crazy thing is that legally a 16 year old can drive a fast tractor (such as JCB fast track) at 30mph (the maximum limit for 16) on the road with a fully laden trailer on the back, but they can't drive a car! And to tow the same trailer behind anything but a tractor they would need to be 21!

There are also some very strange rules regard tractors on the road - rebated diesel use etc etc... For example an Agricultural Contractor may not be entitled to use Red Diesel, and his tractors actually classed as HGV's!

And people back home wonder why Agriculture is struggling, and failing to attract young entrants.. maybe if they simplified the law and allowed people to gain the experience at an earlier age it would help?

 

[Western]

Plus A Billion!

I gagged on my coffee with that one!

You should get a Major Award for that line!

Thanks,
Dan

Hey Dennis, great find! What we need is more government regs, please pile the BS so deep we all drown in it! What are they thinking? The current administration truly believes it knows better than we do how to run our lives, I'm sick of it!

I heard!! It's a start, but it simply doesn't go far enough. Skipping ropes are still ok when they are clearly a choking hazard, and don't get me started about teaching kids graffitti by letting them use chalk!



Funniest thing I've heard in a long time even though I'm not American!

Thanks I started laughing while I was watching the news when I thought of that one and just had to share it with you guy's. My daughter was in the kitchen where I was watching the news when I started laughing, she say's "Geez dad, it's the news!" I told her and she had a "What?" look on her face, all I could say is, "wait to you get out off college and go out in the world, then you'll know why it's funny" sad, but true

 

[dieselalles]

Further evidence that the Nanny State is alive and well and thinking up new rules for us to live by. The Department of Labor wants to put a stop to kids under 16 from driving tractors. Heck, I had four years of experience by the time I was 16!!!!

Oh, and no electronic device use while operating power-driven equipment. Even a weed-eater!

Thank you Washington. Further evidence that we need to severely limit your size and scope.

 

[Smallplot]

The only thing I can think of here in IL, you must be at least 16 and hold a valid driver's license to operate any vehicle on a roadway, including a tractor.

Brin, as far as jet skis and ATVs, I believe it is a manufactures requirement that they be operated by person's over 16 to make sure the operator can reach and use all the controls safely.

 

[creekbend]

LOL - Here is you first bit of heat... - I firmly believe it is up to parents as far as ATVs or Jet Skis or anything else...We simply cannot allow the government to get their foot any further in the door or we will all be slaves...We don't want a nanny state..and it is up to parents to use good judgement..in exercising their freedom in a free country...Just my opinion and I may well take some heat along with you ...:laughing:

I haven't been on TBN very long this evening because of the severe weather that came through. Our power was finally restored around 3 hours ago. I just saw this thread and I agree with your comments. When "ONE" FREEDOM is abolished or regulated, the odds of it ever returning to its original or previous status rarely occurs. On the other hand, there are certain areas that are more prone to benefit the Public by the inclusion of governmental regulations. But Socialism begins by the implementation of laws that restrict the ability of common citizens the freedom to make their own choices. Our Country was partly founded by the belief in these principles. If this was a Civics or History class, I would certainly debate the subject all during the night and hopefully illustrate and give examples that prove the negative side of Socialistic directives and the inevitable outcome. It is my opinion that most citizens would prefer that before a law is passed, that it must be adopted by popular vote, and certainly not by powerful groups that have their own ill conceived agenda. It was not my purpose to be judgmental in any way. It is my wish that everyone has a good night and stays warm and secure.

 

[EMB5530]

So are they gonna include Lawn Tractors where will this one stop
No more kids w/ lawn mower business cuz we dont want to teach kids to work and earn money its too dangerous

I guess we pay the people we vote for so they need to justify there jobs by comming up with stupid crud like this. Man when does this dictation of our lives finally get to a point that we can all agree its TOO MUCH.

"I am proud to be an AMERICAN where at least I know I dont have to think"
Please uncle sam protect me from myself!!!
Cuz hey the laws will stop the law abiding citizens who probabaly would have been responsible in the first place, but not have any effect on people who dont care anyways and probably dont have the foresite to think past their next text message

Arrrrggg

 

[Ken]

So now no more kids using lawn mowers. Didn't a lot of citys stop the children from having lemonade stands.
Some claim the tractors are dangerous. Remember the horses mules formerly used to farm. could kick hard enough to put your head across the room.
The 50 years ago tractor with 20 h.p. engines and lawn mower with a little 5 h.p.banger for engine.
Had a teenager owned a car wanted to use the riding lawn mower and first thing he did was run into a tree. didn't know to lift his foot off the throttle.Or step on the clutch/brake pedal. Maybe he now works for the Gov. making regulations for our safe working conditions.

Co. I used to work for hired the employees college aged children during the summer to do clean up type maintance and to gain experance in sweating for a living. 40 years ago got strong good thinking and eager to learn type children. Now mush headed and if not looking at there cell phone stand around with finger in nose standing with blank look on there face.
These college educated with degrees of knowledge are about the same skill age as the 10 year old of a generation ago.
Decided I had enough working and retired. when co. had to start hiring the "Frick and Frack" pairs that skipped to bath rooms holding hands.
If your still working for a living and have to put up with the conditions the employee relations and Gov. groups are pushing. I wish you well.
ken

 

[toppop52]

The current leadership wants kids and others on the government teat, not earning a living. Working for your own money makes you an independent thinker, which threatens their control.

 

[MotorSeven]

There's a huge difference in peoples attitudes, generally speaking, between our two countries in what role government should play in society. I think government regulation is required in SOME situations, and having some regulations doesn't make us slaves to anybody, it makes us stronger.

Here's an example that's sure to get your blood a boiling and I'm sure put me in a little more hot water with my somewhat more conservative (good) neighbours to the south Canada avoided much of the economic turmoil of the past 3-4 years in part because we had stronger regulation in our banking sector. Some of those regulations made it harder and more costly for some to buy a house, but prevented a similar housing melt down as was, and still is, being felt there. Even if these regulations weren't necessary for EVERYBODY, they were for some people who, like it or not, need to be protected from themselves (and they were).

I don't think a 12 yr old kid should be given a 150 hp jet ski with no real instruction and be allowed to bomb down a lake or river at 70+ mph. It is dangerous to the kid as well as my kids who are also using the water. I know you're saying parents have a responsibility to provide that instruction, but we all know there are plenty of dead beat parents out there who don't. Even if they are given instruction, many kids just don稚 have to maturity to handle it.

I壇 tell you I believe in gun control too, but I don稚 dare open that can of worms:laughing:

Ken, I disagree with your housing assessment on the housing thing. Like here in the states, your houses have over doubled in value in less than 10 years(at least in many parts of Ca). Just like here, that is a abnormality caused by the banking industry. Sooner or later, you will see a "correction", it may not be as severe as ours was, but I think it will happen. We owned two houses in MB, bought before your "bubble" and decided to sell them when I thought the market had peaked. Your bubble is stable for now, and I hope it stays that way...but I doubt it will.

I think freedom is getting chiseled away every day in this country. Thinking and laws like this are another brick on the pile....sooner or later we will be walled in. Kinda reminds me of Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado"....... entombed by what we thought was a "friend".

 

[bp fick]

The water ways, or the most part, are public and thus, subject to public scrutiny and regulation. Fair enough. Operating a motor vehicle on a public right of way or public trails? Ditto. I got no issues.

But a water craft operated on a private pond, if it were big enough, or an ATV driven on private land, or a farmer's kid, like me, expected to sensibly operate my dad's tractor as soon as I could reasonably reach the pedals? That's entirely different. You bet we were trained. Disciplined for even thinking about screwing around too.

Like most stuff, one side of the issue is public and so be it. But the other side is private and it's nobody's business beyond the parent.