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NRMA Launches New Child Farm Safety Campaign


NRMA Launches New Child Farm Safety Campaign

Author: NRMA Media Date: 25 September 2008

One child dies on a farm on average every three weeks and with school holidays just ahead, NRMA Motoring & Services is urging families to take care around vehicles on farms.

Regional NRMA Director Graham Blight said it is disturbing to learn that on average, 20 children under the age of 15 die on Australian farms each year as a result of farm injury. A third of these deaths involve children visiting farms.

"There is nothing worse than losing a child. Many of these deaths and injuries could have been prevented," Mr Blight said.

"The NRMA strongly advocates for child education and safety on our roads, however the safety message is sometimes lost on farms.

"Farming communities and families visiting farms during the holidays need to heed to all safety advice."

Basic child safety tips for vehicle safety on farms:

  • Ensure children wear Australian Standard-approved helmets
  • Do not allow children to ride in the back of utes
  • Ensure children wear seatbelts
  • Do not allow children to ride on 4-wheel motorcycles
  • Keep children off all farm machinery unless closely supervised by an adult

Mr Blight said road safety laws did not apply to farms, however the safety reasons behind the laws do.

"A crash can happen easily on a farm so it is vital that seatbelts are worn and children should be secured in an appropriate restraint," Mr Blight said.

"Farm bikes or all terrain vehicles (ATVs) are responsible for many injuries. They’re the most common cause of death for children 5-14 yrs on farms. ATVs are not designed for children as a rider or a passenger.

"A tractor is one of the most dangerous pieces of machinery on a farm and children under five years of age must be kept away from tractors at all times."

Farm safety tips are outlined in NRMA’s A Parents’ Guide To Kidsafe Farms brochure, available online at www.mynrma.com.au.

Mr Blight said the NRMA was working with the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety to develop a new brochure focusing on vehicle safety on farms which will be available before Christmas.

"If this child farm safety campaign can help to prevent just one fatality these school holidays then it has been more than worthwhile," Mr Blight said.

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