UTV vs Tractor trailer. 3 teenagers dead.

[RandyT]

From what I just looked at, there were absolutely NO obstructions at this intersection.

Only obstruction of view that I can think of would be growing corn.

 

[kozal01]

Man what an awful thing for that truck driver to have to live with even though it wasn't his fault. What the hell was a 13 year old doing driving on a public road anyway? Really poor judgment from the parents of those teens. Sad.

 

[RandyT]

Man what an awful thing for that truck driver to have to live with even though it wasn't his fault. What the hell was a 13 year old doing driving on a public road anyway? Really poor judgment from the parents of those teens. Sad.

In farm country you would be surprised what pre-teen and teenagers are driving on public roads. 250-400 hp tractors tractors with 40+ foot folded implement are common.

 

[tacticalturnip]

In farm country you would be surprised what pre-teen and teenagers are driving on public roads. 250-400 hp tractors tractors with 40+ foot folded implement are common.

One of those is work, the other is play, and the teenager, alone, behind the wheel of a tractor is probably behaving in a much more responsible manner.

A 13 year old girl with her two friends is going to act a fool.

 

[kozal01]

In farm country you would be surprised what pre-teen and teenagers are driving on public roads. 250-400 hp tractors tractors with 40+ foot folded implement are common.

I live in farm country and I can tell you a 13 year old driving 2 other teens around on public roadways in a SXS is not normal or encouraged. Its also very illegal.

 

[BruceSH]

UTV's in general don't appear to meet any federal safety standards. Our UTV has a cage strong enough to support the plastic roof and dome light. Not much in side collision protection either.

A 4 lug nut vehicle vs a 10 lug nut vehicle says it all. And condolences to the families.

 

[BlueKnife]

UTV's in general don't appear to meet any federal safety standards. Our UTV has a cage strong enough to support the plastic roof and dome light. Not much in side collision protection either.

That's why they're not legal to drive on interstate highways, in any state. Those standards don't mean anything on state or county roads, unless that state or county chooses to adopt those standards.

 

[Torvy]

Sad for the 4 families involved. Truck may have had a dash cam, which the police would use for the details. I disagree with the laws allowing these UTV's to be driven on our roads. I see a bunch of them out here, in rural Iowa. With the lack of safety items they have (shoulder belts - if even used), any UTV accident will have bad results.

I feel the same way about these as with bikes. If the vehicle cannot consistently run at least close to the speed limit of a road, they have no business on it.

Kids shouldn't be on a UTV on a road regardless. More about training, than age. In SD a 14 yo can get a license, but you need to have driver training. In IL, I think minimum is 16 (maybe 15 learners?)

 

[Jstpssng]

More about training, than age

I would have to say it's both. I know how I was at that age.

 

[plowhog]

We have a father in our neighborhood that drives a 3-wheeler with his child on his lap. Twisty dirt road with vehicle traffic. Everyone in the neighborhood is holding their breath. One person commented to him about it, and he got in their face with heated comments.