Drunk driver hits tractor.

[Toyboy]

My former tractor didn't have seat belt or ROPS, used it for around 30 yr without a problem or concern. My BX2230 came with those and I always buckle up when on it. I think it's a carryover from the truck.

I'd have to believe that quite a few of us grew up without seat belts, air bags, bicycle helmets etc. and did just fine. Now that big brother got involved you have to look like a hockey player before you leave the house. In instances where you have a man-machine accident, it's fair to assume that safety equipment may have saved the person.

I feel the bigger problem is today's culture. I've seen lots of times where drivers get caught 6-7-8 times or more under the influence and keep getting back on the road license or not. They just don't care. Same thing with poachers, they'll take away their hunting & fishing rights for a year..... you think a poacher cares about that....not!

Anyway, enough of my rant. We now return you to our regular programming.

 

[daugen]

Toyboy, I think we have to be a little selfish. And I mean taking care of one's self, including our necks, which we hope to preserve if the tractor rolls over and we don't want to get squashed. I was second in on a volunteer fire company response to a sixteen year old who lay dying in his father's arms while I literally watched when his Farmall rolled on him bushhogging on a hill and the steering wheel crushed his chest. So to avoid that kind of horror, we need to be selfish, look out after ourselves,
and be safe.

I don't know how many of us have been in a tractor that has rolled, I sure hope never to do it and now living on very flat land, pretty unlikely. But there's always a ditch or something to get sideways in, or slide down on, or something. Or lose a wheel in a hole while hauling a full bucket load on a slope.
I've gotten to the point where I really do think it will happen to me, so I have to be careful. Not the way I want to go. And we just lost a Texas TBN member by getting squashed under his mower held up by the FEL, which all collapsed somehow. Sadly this stuff really happens. And if it's my turn next, well, whether due to my own stupidity or a sheer accident, I'd like that belt tightened. However if they want to put Takata airbags in my next tractor, well I'll opt out...

I do think however that forcing tractor manufacturers to safety engineer farm tractors against collision would be a bit much. Actually a lot much.

 

[CurlyDave]

When I got my tractor, I made a rule for myself which is that I will not start the engine without wearing the seat belt. Even if I am only going 20 feet in my own driveway.

Somehow, sitting up in that seat gives me a vantage point where I can frequently see a few "little things" that need to be done while I have the tractor running. If I don't have the seat belt on, I an going to do something wrong.

My other rule is that if I get off, even for a second, I turn the engine off. Over the course of a lifetime this might cost me an extra battery and maybe a starter. Cheap insurance.