Mechanical condition of agricultural vehicles

A research project jointly funded by HSE and DfT (Department for Transport) has been completed and the report is available from the research section of the HSE website.

The research confirms that agricultural vehicles need to be maintained in better condition, but that more enforcement and regulation is not the only answer.

There has been some discussions in the media recently about the implications of this research. One issue that has been raised is whether there should be a statutory inspection regime for tractors (i.e. an ‘MoT Test’). This is a matter for the DfT rather than HSE. DfT (Ministers) have no plans to introduce the MOT test for agricultural vehicles.

HSE will continue to work with the industry and interested stakeholders to find ways of getting the message across that effective maintenance will improve safety and is good business sense. 

This research provides a lot of valuable information and establishes a baseline from which progress can be measured in the future.