Data from NFU Mutual prompts rural road safety warning

New data shows that almost half of accidents involving agricultural vehicles happen during May to September.

Claims data from rural insurer NFU Mutual shows that last year collisions between agricultural vehicles and third parties were 42 per cent more likely in this period of the year than in any other months.

On average, there were 456 of these accidents per month during the silage cutting, hay making, and harvesting season, compared to just 263 per month between October and April.

Higher volumes of agricultural traffic during this period, particularly tractors pulling heavy silage and grain trailers or wide agricultural machinery, brings a greater need for all road users to respect their fellow road users and the hazards common on country roads, says the insurer.

The increase in agricultural vehicles in the road coincides with the sunnier weather and school holidays to greatly increase the hazards on rural roads during this time.