Video sparks safety debate about children in tractor cabs
A viral video has sparked a big debate about farm safety around children in tractors.
John McClean, from County Antrim, Northern Ireland, posted a video on online agricultural video site FarmTV showing him driving a tractor on the road with his two young children sat beside him.
The video, which has been viewed thousands of times on social media sites, features Mr McClean driving along a country road in County Antrim alongside his two young children, Isaac and Eva.
See also: Tractors on the road: Rights, wrongs, rules and regulations
It is against the law to allow a child under the age of 13 to ride in a tractor cab on the road and the video seeks to open the debate about child passengers.
Mr McClean’s film company used multiple cameras to create the illusion of the children driving along in the cab. At no point were the children ever in danger, the company said.
The video starts with Mr McClean asking his two children to “wave to mummy”.
As the tractor trundles along with clouds of smoke coming from its exhaust pipe, Mr McClean asks his children if they want “smoke or po”.
The “smoke” symbolises the diesel fumes emitted from the exhaust and the “po” is the sound of the gears changing.
Both children are being jostled about in the cab, without wearing safety belts, and the giggling daughter opts for “po”. Mr McClean accelerates the tractor and changes up the gears.
Other cars, including a red Fiat, can be seen driving close to the tractor along the narrow country lane.
The video has divided opinion among viewers.
Former Ulster Farmers’ Union president Ian Marshall praised Mr McClean for his attempts to raise awareness around safety issues in the industry, but he told the Belfast Telegraph that children should not be in a moving tractor.
“We have to raise a note of caution with all farmers as regards carrying children in tractors because we know it is dangerous,” said Mr Marshall.
“Glarryford farmer Wallace Gregg’s eight-year-old son James fell out of a tractor last year and was badly injured.
“We know that farmers on some occasions carry children in tractors, but we recommend that farmers look at the regulations and understand the guidance on this and be responsible because tractors are dangerous machines.”
In a second video posted on FarmTV on 2 November, the makers of “Do you want smoke or po?” hit back at critics.
Brian Milligan said he hoped that creating the viral video would “get people talking about the concept of having children in the [tractor] cab when they are under the age of 13”.
Mr McClean posted a third video on FarmTV in which he called for child safety belts to be retrofitted to tractors.
He explained he was not a farmer, but wanted to “stick his head above the firing line” to create a debate about safety of children in tractor cabs.
He said: “There are people out there who point blank feel children should never be in the cab.
“Personally, I feel it is a safety cab. In certain types of work, in certain types of environments, it is good for the kids to grow up in the environment and it is good for the kids to learn in the cab rather than trying to stand and spectate.
“Because they want to. They love it, they love machinery, they love farming. They love seeing what’s going on. They want to be part of it. Where do I want my kids in that scenario? I want them right beside me… in the safety cab.”
Health and Safety Executive NI said it was aware of the video and was making inquiries.
What do you think? Tell us your views on children in tractor cabs. Email philip.case@rbi.co.uk or call 020 8652 4905.