child add on seat

[Gatorboy]

<font color="blue"> 10 speed bike ~30#
Lawn Tractor ~400#+
</font>

It's obvious many of the dangers are different. I wouldn't expect the Deere to slip on some loose rocks and fall into a lane of traffic and the child get run over. Both have their 'potential' dangers.

I don't see any more liability suits brought forth in that tractor seat as I do a bike seat. In fact, it would probably be less.

 

[hazmat]

<font color="blue">It's obvious many of the dangers are different. I wouldn't expect the Deere to slip on some loose rocks and fall into a lane of traffic and the child get run over. Both have their 'potential' dangers. </font>

Good point. As the saying goes, "Low risk, low reward"...

 

[bczoom]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( It's obvious many of the dangers are different. I wouldn't expect the Deere to slip on some loose rocks and fall into a lane of traffic and the child get run over. Both have their 'potential' dangers.

I don't see any more liability suits brought forth in that tractor seat as I do a bike seat. In fact, it would probably be less.
)</font>

Dave,

Many of us have been looking for jump-seats to go in the back of our UTV's. So far, haven't found anyone who will make one due to liability.

I know someone who strapped one of the bicycle seats you pictured to the rear rack of an ATV for to give his 2 year old slow rides. He wasn't on his property and someone saw it and called the police. Police came and screamed at the guy for awhile, confiscated the ATV, threatened the guy with some sort of endangerment of the child and was going to call Youth Services (or whatever the government agency is called) to see if they should take custody of the child.

I guess the police chief calmed the officer down. He got away with a warning and they towed his quad home. He had to walk home 1 mile carrying the child.

The Dad's question/issue was, "Why are these seats safe when strapped to a bicycle with 1" wide tires, that can easily be tipped or wrecked and are driven at higher speeds? This seat is properly secured, sitting on 4 fat tires, going 2 mph...".

I agree with Bob. The things we used to do as kids are no longer allowed.

Brian

 

[RobS]

<font color="blue">I wonder what Deere thinks about it's product being used to showcase this accessory </font>

I don't think Deere would be too happy about it. We have product liability training for work and one example given was a third party modifying one of our products for later sale. A suit was brought against us because our name was on the product, and more likely, because we were a much larger (richer) company than the other. I don't recall the outcome but it was clear to me that an innocent company can be implicated in the doings of a third party /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[gsxr1100]

I wonder if there is nothing in the Deere manual about this "Add on". Also if any "suits" can be addressed to the manufacture if (when) something happens?

What is ever worse is that someone patiented this item. It is not easy to do this process but one must ask, "why"..are you that bored?

I love the words "...heavy steel..." in the auction. Heavy? Compared to what?????

 

[keeney]

two issues:

1. There are design issues with the seat that could make it safer. If you are going to do something like this, a little bit better of design would be called for:

a. Should have handles for the kids to hold onto.

b. Should have something to prevent kids feet from getting wedged between back tire and fender. Also, some kind of foot rests would help prevent kids from sliding off.

c. As mentioned, should have a roll-bar with those seat belts to be complete ROPS.

d. How to prevent kids from un-buckling and jumping off while running? Maybe add their seats to the operator presence system? Maybe tamper-resist buckles on a five-point harness like a car seat?


2. The philosophy here gives me mixed feelings.

Pro: Purchasing this type of equipment indicates that the parent is trying to be safe.

Pro: I am a firm believer in giving children as many opportunities to observe and learn things from adults as they can (safely), so having a good way to show an age-appropriate adolescent how to safely operate the riding mower is a good thing.

Pro: Its better than having them ride without the seats

Pro: They are not running around the yard randomly.

Con: The age of kids shown in the photo will not understand the seriousness of the safety issues involved. They are not ready to learn how to keep from getting their toes cut off or prevent a life-threatening roll-over because they have no appreciation of the consequences of failing to be safe.

Con: Its not as safe as keeping them in the house, well away from power equipment, under supervision of another adult.

Con: Some other people will definitely think the parent is nuts for even thinking of using such a thing.

- Rick

 

[RobS]

One more issue:

Some mush-for-brains is going to put one of these on his machine, the holes won't line up quite right so he'll use half stripped 1/4-20s from his junk drawer. He'll put his ADD kid in there and not buckle him because "he's too macho for that". He'll mow along then hit reverse, kid slides out of the seat, gets run over and chopped up. Probably maimed for life, not killed. Lawyers see the headlines and go after every name on every piece of consumer material within 100 feet of the accident site. Parents lose, kid looses, companies lose, lawyers win.

Bottom line, this is just a bad design. I wouldn't let my kids anywhere near it.

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Then again, maybe we should simply allow things like this to be made more often. Allow Darwin to judge who should reproduce.

 

[keeney]

Yes, its hard for a design to be mush-for-brains and lawyer proof.

 

[keeney]

I forgot my bottom line:

A: I'd rather see my little girl cry because she has to stay in the house while I use the tractor than ever cry because she broke her leg getting run over. Part of being a father is being the one who has to say no for her own good.

B: Ask the kid's mom what they think. I know I would be a dead man if I ever suggested such a thing.

- Rick