Children On Tractors a No-No

Children On Tractors a No-No TRACTORS Miscellaneous 7-1-5 From time to time, FARM SHOW readers send us photos and details of seemingly "safe" devices they've made for taking small children along on tractors. Here are two recent examples: "I mounted an old small barrel on my older Deere tractor. It's safe and completely out of my way," writes a Washington state farmer, cautioning that "young riders should wear ear plugs to prevent damage from prolonged exposure to loud tractor noise." A Wisconsin farmer, noting that "I wanted to build a seat on the tractor so my daughter could safely ride with me," designed one atop a vertical brace post mounted on the tractor's rear axle. It's equipped with a seat belt. "I like the seat because it gives me a chance to be near my daughter during the day, and gives my wife some free time." He, too, cautioned about youngsters riding without ear plugs, and that "they shouldn't be riding along on hilly ground". We ran the above two ideas by several safety specialists, all of whom shuttered at even the thought of thinking it's possible to devise any kind of safe way for small children to ride on tractors. Their strong feelings on the subject are best summarized by University of Deleware extension safety specialist Ron Jester: "A tractor has only one seat, and it's for the operator. Tractor operators should make æno riders' a consistent policy," says Jester, who suggests the following safety precautions: •Never give in to pleas for a ride. • Instruct other tractor operators that they should never allow riders. •A tractor is no place to baby sit.

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