The number of fatal accidents caused by tractors and other large agricultural vehicles has doubled over the past two decades, new research shows.

Wageningen university has looked at the figures between 1987 and 2012 and found that there are now 15 road deaths a year caused by agricultural vehicles, 87 incidents where people were hospitalised, and 127 cases of light injuries.

‘These are worrying figures,’ researcher Jasper de Vries told the Telegraaf. ‘Particularly since the trend is downward in road accidents.’

Scale

One of the factors is the increased scale of agriculture, De Vries says. ‘Greater distances are being driven by tractors between the farm and the field which gives a greater risk of accidents on local country roads.’

Another cause is that other special vehicles are being used to transport cattle, straw, machines or earth, making the use of country roads busier and more diverse, according to De Vries.

‘In bygone years, it was virtually only farmers on the roads, but now there is more recreation with people cycling or riding scooters,’ says De Vries.

The research is being sent to provinces, councils and water authorities so local country roads can be made safer.