A suggestion for John D and others

Green4Me · May 23, 2005

I'd also add firearms to that list.

trlong · May 24, 2005

About 20 years ago I was in a Suzuki motorcycle dealership and a kid (just 19 or so) walked in to buy a 1000cc "crotch rocket". He'd got his license riding a 90CC Yamaha. It was all he'd ever rode. His uncle was giving him a gift for passing his 1st year of college...a new crotch rocket and enough $'s to spend the summer riding to the West Coast and back. I thought the dealer was unconsionable, selling a loaded weapon to a kid. However, it was obvious the kid would have bought the fastest bike he could, where ever he could. On reflection, I think the dealer, and perhaps the uncle, deserve a "Darwin Award" for restriction of the gene pool. Unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, the kid never made it out of the state alive.

I've put several hundred thousand miles on motorcycles. All the time a little voice in the back of my head said "the pavement, and nearly everything else, is harder than your body and sooner or later you will go down..."

Basic safety and use training would be great. However, as pointed out, liability issues make it really tough. I received nearly no information or advise when I bought the 4115. I'd driven a couple of farm tractors, during my teens, helping with haying. That was all I knew of tractors. So, I read the manuals cover to cover, especially the safety warnings, before delivery and did everything very slowly until I began to understand the limits of the machine. Still, I rolled it with something around 50 hours on it. Such is life. As with my chainsaws, all other power tools, and...dare I say firearms(?), if I start it, move it, or fire it, I'm responsible.

"Intelligence is finite...the population is expanding......" [unknown source]

creeper · May 24, 2005

Well said ! I would think a new owner could offer to pay the service dept to become familar with operation. Point is , safety is up to the operator and nobody else. I don't want to see dealers require me to watch a video and sign waivers. I also don't think the cost of equipment should be increased to cover all the fees involved.

LBrown59 · May 24, 2005

The other day in my area
A 9 year old girl was found still strapped by the seat belt in the seat of a Go _ Cart at the bottom of the river hours after having gone over the river bank on the go cart.

Tollster · May 25, 2005

I have to disagree, I believe there is always something to be learned in any class. Many of todays tractors do have lock out devices in place to prevent injury, but on the other hand they have gotten smaller and they are no longer just used in the farming industry. Many users may not have grown up in a farming community and quite simply lack good judgement skills. I think if we all where to view some of the accidents involving tractors many of those people and yes....even some of us would think twice obout what we are about to do. I can surely say it wold not hurt in any manner. And I find it very dissapointing that the one of the primary reasons we don't have it is the monitary issue and the liability. But then again how are the manufactures of ATV's mandated to make you attend a training/saftey seminar prior to ownership?

Moon · May 25, 2005

Like you Buckie, I learned much more here on TBN about tractoring than from my dealer. I have a great dealer for sales and service ...at least I thought I did. In comparison to folks here, my dealer was lacking in explaining much about the tractor. The delivery guy basically delivered it and spent 5 mins at most going over levers & controls. Thats it. He did strongly suggest reading the manual ...which i did after mowing the lawn (it was really high!).

LB - I saw that story on the 9 year old girl who drowned from her go cart accident. Very sad. They did the right thing and had her strapped in, but she drove to close to the river bank and ended up in the river. Her dad and others were right there, but could not locate the go-cart in the muddy water.

Here is a link to the story by the local tv station: Child drowns in river

getut · May 25, 2005

( Many users may not have grown up in a farming community and quite simply lack good judgement skills.)

Only idiots should be responsible for idiots. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Indydirtfarmer · May 25, 2005

( Many users may not have grown up in a farming community and quite simply lack good judgement skills )

I'd like to change that statement a bit, if you would allow..."Many users may not have grown up in a farming community OR quite simply lack good judgement skills".

Speaking as someone who did grow up in a farming community (on a farm) I would just like to say that good judgement isn't exclusive to farmers, nor is anyone exemt from those skills just because they didn't grow up on that farm.

I've seen some farmers who I was terrified to be around when they ran equipment. I've seen "city slickers" that had the best of instincts on a tractor.

Common sense isn't limited to ones upbringing and environment. (Although those conditions SOMETIMES tend to limit the developement of ones common sense)

Moon · May 25, 2005

( I'd like to change that statement a bit, if you would allow..."Many users may not have grown up in a farming community OR quite simply lack good judgement skills".
)

I think I'm with ya Indy ...but I'd change the pharse a wee bit more.
..."Many users may not have grown up in a farming community OR quite simply lack good judgement skills in the operation of tractors and farming equiptment".

Soneone from Queens NY might be right at home in the downtown NYNY environment, but quite lost on a tractor ...heck some of them don't even have driving licenses. Just the same a poor boy from southern Ohio might be right at home on a tractor but very uncomfortable on the streets of NY city. Nothing to be ashamed of in either case. Environmental upbringing. We all learn from our surroundings.
Thats what I interpitted the origninal quote to mean. Let me know if I'm way off.