3 yr old killed in tractor accident

[Luke'sScreenName]

Yes, our view of risk certainly has changed. But what isn't generational it the thought that it would be preferable to call this poor grandfather "stupid" and suggest society would be better off if he were prosecuted so as to teach him a lesson about "personal responsibility."
THAT is just not how I was brought up and has nothing to do with be old or young.

 

[TripleR]

Very sad indeed; all I've got to say.

 

[Mace Canute]

I see a neighbor doing this regularly with what I'm sure has to be his grandson, and it makes me shake my head every time. He's steering with one hand, and holding the kid with the other, and I keep thinking how easily it could go wrong in an instant. I totally get wanting to spend quality time, but only if it can be done in relative safety.

That's the thing....a lot of people think because nothing every happened to them when they did it that it's safe to do but totally ignore the fact that the people that it happened to thought exactly the same thing right up to the point that it happened.

 

[onelostdogg]

What a tragedy. Can't imagine what the grandfather is feeling. Prayers tonight for that whole family.

 

[JRobyn]

Hard (the hardest) lesson. Thanks for posting it. I reposted it on my FB page because my S-I-L has done the same thing without thinking or really understanding the danger, and I know that she will see it there. Who knows how many others have done the same. Perhaps it will save one innocent life.

- Jay

 

[kebo]

What a tragedy. Can't imagine what the grandfather is feeling. Prayers tonight for that whole family.

Yep, I am sure he is deeply hurting over the accidental death of his grandson. Prayers for him and the family as well.

I've said it before and will say it again.... no child under the age of 12 should be riding on, or in, any part of a tractor (or any heavy equipment for that matter), or being around heavy equipment while it is in operation. They are just to young to know better, and the operator CANNOT concentrate on operating the equipment in a safe manner while watching the child at the same time. And this includes letting a child ride inside a cab too, you never know when they might reach for or hit a lever accidentally and cause some disaster. Tractors are not designed and built to be play toys, or use as a babysitting tool. That's all my opinion, and I am sure everyone has theirs.

 

[downsizingnow48]

I was brought up around earth moving equipment, tractors, metal working machinery, table saws, etc. My Dad and uncles never treated any piece of equipment as entertainment. And I never have either. Rigorous safety procedures always. I am sorry for the tragedy but what is a three year old doing on that equipment.

 

[Texas Dawg]

I just don't understand it. I don't have kids, but I won't let my dogs out when I am using my tractors or lawn mowers. I do think times have changed, when I was growing up, my dad would take a whole bunch of us to the dairy queen for ice cream, in the back of a pickup. You would go to prison for that now.

Maybe the fact that we have fewer children, smaller families has a impact? When we were kids, families were a lot larger. With today's smaller families, maybe society values individuals more? Above my pay grade, but a thought I had....

As a kid we would all pile in the back of the pickup to ride 10 or so miles to the next little town over for a little league baseball game. Of course the truck did not have anything but lap belts (that NOBODY wore...ever) so the passengers inside were probably not a lot safer.

 

[daugen]

And this includes letting a child ride inside a cab too,

And just yesterday I invited a friend/Father to bring his 11 year old son over to drive my tractor (cab) and dig some sand piles I temporarily have.
Little window of opportunity for fun... If they do come we'll have a long safety lecture. I'm a retired insurance agent and underwriter. Risk sensitive and
usually risk averse.

I look around and we can get hurt by anything. My SIL almost died from a tiny cut on her finger getting dirt into it when she was gardening and she went septic. I sure do wash my hands when I come in now. And i put the seatbelt on when using the FEL even with flat land and a ballast box.
That way I know I've done what I can do. The rest is up to ?

There are a lot of switches and knobs on my Kubota's dash. Knocking into the automatic/manual lever could create a huge lurch or worse at speed. You sure don't think that little kid is going to drop the bucket on you; actually I think mine has a master on/off. But who remembers that when little Billy wants to hop on your lap with a huge expectant smile on his face? You better be careful....and stay on level ground and go slow.

I see pictures on Youtube of young boys riding with their Dads in a combine harvesting. But not all tractors have buddy seats, in fact I bet most of "ours" don't', they are in much larger tractors than most of us own. Now strapped and belted in a buddy seat? Boy you bet.

hours standing on the drawbar of a Farmall. Me too, except on that wobbly bar on a JD B.
And many many trips on the back step of a firetruck where they sure don't let you do that any more. Hanging on for literally dear life, swaying around curves, bouncing up on country road bumps, all the while trying to get all the buttons on your firecoat snapped. None of us fell off either...but now all fireman ride in cabs in most departments. No back steps on fire trucks any more. In that we've gotten smarter.

Things happen so quickly and you just can't take them back.
So you have to be careful enough, to take the time to get it right the first time.
Love for a child extends to his/her safety too, not just entertainment/recreation.
Like a sailboat, put a tether on them if need be...

I've seen kids on tractors in parades that just gave me the willies. One slip and
instant nightmare.

 

[GManBart]

Instead of shaking your head, why not go confront him about your concerns for the child?!:confused3:

I say "neighbor" in a general sense....guy lives a couple of miles up the road from me and we've never met. For a number of reasons, I'm not going to pull into somebody's driveway and lecture them about safety. If it was someone I knew, I'd try talking to them about it.