The effects of roadway characteristics on farm equipment crashes: a geographic information systems approach

Abstract

BackgroundTractors and other slow-moving self-propelled farm equipment are often used on public roadway to transfer goods from the farm to a market or distributer. Increased roadway exposure has led to a growing concern on the occurrence of farm equipment crashes. This study aims to compare characteristics of road segments with farm equipment crashes to road segments without farm equipment crashes in the state of Iowa.MethodsData were obtained from the Iowa Department of Transportation from 2005 to 2011 on all crashes involving farm equipment, and features of all Iowa roadways. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) was used to identify geospatial features, such as road type, speed limit, traffic volume surface type, road and shoulder width of where a crash occurred. Logistic regression models were used to measure the associations between road characteristics and the occurrence of farm equipment crashes. Crude and adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were reported.ResultsA total of 1371 farm equipment crashes were reported in Iowa over the 6-year period and geocoded onto a street location. As traffic volume increased, the odds of a crash occurring also increased. Roadways with posted speed limits between 50 and 60 mph were associated with a higher odds of having crashes on them compared to roadways with speeds less than 35 mph (OR = 8.05, 95% CI: 6.59–9.84). Iowa routes (OR = 5.98, 95% CI: 4.97–7.20) had the highest odds of having crashes compared to local routes. Increased road width (OR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.86–0.94) was associated with a 10% decrease in the odds of a crash.ConclusionsHigher traffic volume, higher posted speed limits, road type, and smaller road widths were associated with the occurrence of farm equipment crashes. Findings from this study can be used to guide policy to improve roadway design and conditions for all road users.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40621-016-0096-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Use of Safety Components to Avoid Accidents With Agricultural Tractors in Public Roads

“…Low speed of displacement in relation to the other vehicles on the road Correa et al, 2005;Peek-Wing et al, 2007;Costello, Schulman, & Mitchell, 2009;Reis & Machado, 2009;Gkritza et al, 2010;Pinzke et al, 2012;Burin & Bezerra, 2013;Dimitrovski et al, 2013;Santos Monteiro & Macedo, 2013;Greenan et al, 2016;Tuure, Latti, & Kaila, 2016 Greater dimensions, often wider than a traffic lane, also invading the road shoulder Costello, Schulman, & Mitchell, 2009;Gkritza et al, 2010;Burin & Bezerra, 2013;Santos Monteiro, & Macedo 2013;Greenan et al, 2016 Nonstandard lighting and/or signaling, deficient or missing Correa et al, 2005;Reis & Machado, 2009;Gkritza et al, 2010;Burin & Bezerra, 2013;Tuure, Latti, & Kaila, 2016;CEMA, 2017 Often carries passengers on the fenders Reis & Machado, 2009;Santos, Monteiro, & Macedo, 2013 Usage lifespan, in some cases of more than 20 years, which implies on the absence of safety equipment, such as: a) rollover protective structure; b) seat belt; c) mirrors. Correa et al, 2005;Reis & Machado, 2009;Gkritza et al, 2010;Pinzke et al, 2012;Montemor, Veloso, & Areosa, 2015;CEMA, 2017 Figure 1.…”

“…The data released by the National Department of Infrastructure and Transport (DNIT, 2014) show that Brazil has 1.71 million kilometers of roads, being 7% federal roads, 15% state roads and 78% municipal roads In addition to the increased volume and density of vehicles in traffic, high speed limits, type and width of the road lanes are factors associated with the occurrence of accidents with farm machinery on public roads (Greenan et al, 2016). Studies by Costello, Schulman, andMitchell (2009), Harland et al (2014), and Greenan et al (2016) showed that the addition of vehicle density in traffic strongly contributes to the occurrence of accidents, increasing the risk of collisions with farm equipment.…”

“…The signaling (such as the use of retro-reflectors or slow moving vehicle emblems) has a moderate association of 11% reduction. Gkritza et al (2010), Greenan et al (2016), and Murphy (2017) emphasize the importance of meeting US standards for lighting and signaling for agricultural vehicles in order to improve the conspicuity and raise awareness of other road users of the presence of the agricultural vehicle in motion. As measures, they suggest to raise awareness of other drivers for the presence of a slow vehicle on the move in the same direction by implementing improvements in signaling and lighting at the rear of the agricultural machine.…”

“…This way, possible accident prevention strategies should include better conspicuity and visibility through lighting and signaling of slow vehicles (Luginbuhl, Jones, & Langley, 2003;Correa et al, 2005;Peek-Asa et al, 2007;Reis & Machado, 2009;Gkritza et al, 2010;Fetzer et al, 2012;Pinzke et al, 2012;Greenan et al, 2016;Ramirez et al, 2016;Murphy, 2017). Making the agricultural equipment more visible when in traffic on public roads directs to reducing collisions and the severity of injuries.…”

Evolução da intensificação do tráfego e a incidência de acidentes com tratores agrícolas nas vias públicas brasileiras

“…A queda nas vendas de tratores entre os anos de 1990 e 2006 foi compensada pela elevação da potência das máquinas comercializadas, com aumento da representatividade de tratores na faixa de 100 (73,5 kW) a 199 cv (146,4 kW) [24]. Além do aumento no volume e na densidade do tráfego de veículos, os limites de velocidade altos, o tipo e a largura da via são fatores associados à ocorrência de acidentes com máquinas agrícolas em vias públicas [25]. Estudos realizados por Harland; Greenan; Rramirez.…”