Rampant tractors on roads: Accident monsters

 Presently, tractors are sine qua non for almost all farming operations viz., plowing, tilling, harrowing, planting, spraying, fertilizing, harvesting and transporting the products to markets and inputs to farmers’ fields. Being an implement for use at farms, its registration charges are the minimum and insurance premiums is very low. But nowadays, tractors are increasingly used for non-farm activities; hence their running is rampant on public roads despite their exemption from road tax. Owing to their frequent use on main roads, accidents with tractors are reported every day in the local newspapers, especially in Punjab and Haryana due to their high tractor density. Tractors are more prone to accidents mainly due to their slow speed and dimensions. The   approach towards accident prevention from tractors may be twofold. One may be precautionary measures with the use of available technologies on both the above points. Second, making policies to restrict use of tractors on main public roads and specifying timing to avoid rush hours.

The tractor is one of the most used instruments in highly mechanized farming, at present, in our country.  Tractors ease arduous agricultural operations and boost cropping intensity by reducing the sowing and harvesting periods. The number of tractors in India started increasing after bank credit was made available for their purchase in the mid-seventies. To be noted that till 1974, tractor financing by banks was banned by the Government as it was displacing farm labourers. In modern farming, tractors are sine qua non for almost all farming operations viz., ploughing, tilling, harrowing, planting, spraying, fertilizing, harvesting and transporting the products to markets and inputs to farmers’ fields. That may be reason that their registration charges are the minimum and insurance premiums are very low Tractors are also used for transporting building materials and sand filling for levelling in agricultural fields, residential plots and parks in cities and villages. Moreover, tractors are frequently deployed to block roads by the protesting farmers. 

Owing to increasing non-farm use of tractors, their running on roads including highways and city roads is frequently observed. Old and unmaintained tractors on roads are one of the causes of air and noise pollution.  Fatal accidents with tractors are reported every day in the local newspapers, especially in Punjab and Haryana which are known for their high tractor density. Owing to more accidents involving tractors, these are reported as living monsters on busy roads.  Moreover, most of the farmers do not renew the insurance of their tractors and it becomes difficult to get adequate compensation in accidents with tractors.  The question arises; how to minimize accidents involving tractors and harvester-combines on busy roads and cities? 

The biggest factor contributing to on-road accidents with agricultural vehicles like tractors and Harvester Combines is their slow speed on the roads. It disrupts other high-speed vehicles. Dimension of tractors is another contributing factor for accidents. Many agricultural vehicles are much wider than surrounding vehicles, mainly due to a wider chassis or tyres or even overloading with light stuff like chaff, sugarcane, etc.  Both of these factors have much more potential than other vehicles for causing traffic disruptions and accidents. Sometimes, 2-3 trolleys are combined which makes it difficult to overtake. This is a challenge since the density of tractors in our country is rising and the average distance between vehicles is decreasing. 

The approach towards accident prevention from tractors may be twofold. One may include precautionary measures with the use of available technologies in the market on both the above points. The big agricultural vehicles going on roads may be fitted with special flashing or blinking lights or banners on the front and rear sides.  In the Netherlands, agricultural vehicles allowed on main public roads are mandatory fitted with side mirrors, dipped-beam headlamps, and lights on fenders, indicators, tails, brakes and cabins for the driver. Vehicles are also screened concerning any sharp object outside their body as that can cause injury to road users. Even the maximum load and dimensions of tractors, trolleys and trailers are regulated. Tractors attaching double trolleys may be banned except those going to sugar mills or grain/vegetable markets and storages, etc. Live insurance cover may be mandatory for tractors going on public roads. I recollect a fatal accident case with a tractor where recovery of compensation amount was a big problem without insurance coverage.   

The other may be policy measures by State and Central Governments for restricting the use of tractors on the roads going to villages, grain/ vegetable markets, the notified procurement centres, sugar mills and storage and of course farms. It is because of their limited use for the above purposes that agricultural vehicles are exempted from road tax in most of the states. The tractors used on main public and city roads must be checked for renewal of insurance and payment of road tax. To avoid disruption to other vehicles, tractors with a minimum speed of say 25 km per hour may be prescribed for agriculture vehicles on public roads. Even timing of tractors on main roads may be specified to avoid rush periods. It is the right time to take all these measures to reduce the menace of tractor-related accidents in the interest of the public especially owners of tractors despite a little pinch to them in the beginning.