Distracted driving is a growing problem, and it’s not limited to our roads and highways. John Deere, a manufacturer of agricultural machinery, is introducing cellphone- and tablet- mounting brackets that it says will reduce distractions for people who operate farm equipment.
The U.S. Department of Transportation describes a distraction as any activity that diverts a person’s attention from the primary task of driving. That definition applies regardless of whether a driver is operating a car, truck or even farm equipment.
According to John Deere, most farmers and ranchers today use cellphones or other mobile devices as their primary source of communication. The company says its brackets will give customers hands-free access to their devices without interfering with visibility and machine controls.
The brackets include a cellphone mount, tablet kit and accessory kit for things like GPS devices. According to the company, the brackets are easy to attach or remove and make it convenient for the customer to use electronic devices while paying attention on operating the tractor.
The U.S. Department of Labor Fact Sheet on Farm Safety reports that as many as 1,300 lives are claimed due to farm accidents, and that they cause 120,000 injuries a year. The highest number of fatalities is caused by tractor accidents, with tractor overturns making up roughly 44 percent of all tractor fatalities.
The Florida personal injury legal team at Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney, hopes that that the new devices will reduce distracted driving on our farms and ranches and lead to fewer accidents on tractors and other farm equipment.
