Exploratory Analysis of Farm Vehicle and Farm Labor Transportation-Related Crashes

ABSTRACT

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate characteristics associated with farm vehicle and farm labor transportation-related roadway crashes in the state of Florida. Agricultural roadway crashes related to these vehicles have not been explored in Florida.

Methods

The data for this study comes from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) for the years 2013–2021. The data is recorded by the Florida Highway Patrol when a vehicular crash has occurred. The data is then coded to allow the selection of farm and agricultural-related vehicles. Specifically, this study focuses on farm labor transport vehicles and farm vehicles (e.g. farm tractors).

Results

There were 744 farm vehicle- and 209 farm labor transportation-related crashes during the 9-year study period. The farm labor transport vehicle crashes involved a total of 420 vehicles and 1,329 individuals, and the farm vehicle crashes involved 1,458 vehicles and 1,652 individuals. Injury risk for non-farm labor transportation vehicle occupants was significantly higher than injury risk for farm labor transportation vehicle occupants.

Conclusions

The average fatality rate for farm vehicle-involved (2.1 fatalities per 100 crashes) and farm labor transportation vehicle-involved crashes (2.9 fatalities per 100 crashes) were much higher than the overall FL roadway crash fatality rate (0.45 fatalities per 100 crashes).

KEYWORDS:

• Crash
• farm vehicle
• farm labor transportation
• roadway

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the Southeast Center for Agricultural Health and Injury Prevention – Pilot Projects (CDC NIOSH grant # 2U54OH007547).