Raising awareness with VR: BUL shows effects of tractor crash without seat belt

The seat belt can save lives in the event of a tractor accident. But not all tractor drivers buckle up. A campaign called "Already buckled up?", which works with VR, now wants to do something about this.

In recent years, there have been numerous fatal accidents involving agricultural vehicles. With the awareness-raising campaign "Already buckled up?", the Swiss Council for Accident Prevention in Agriculture and the Swiss Farmers' Association want to motivate drivers to wear seat belts.

The legal basis currently applies: the Road Traffic Act stipulates that seat belts must be worn from a speed of 25 kilometres per hour.

"We want to sensitise people with the new campaign," says Thomas Frey, Managing Director of the Swiss Council for Accident Prevention in Agriculture (BUL). The new "Already buckled up?" campaign, which Frey is referring to, was developed by the Accident Prevention Working Group under the auspices of the Swiss Farmers' Union (SBV). The aim is not to make seat belts compulsory, but to show people how important they are. "It should become a matter of course to wear them," says Frey.

Simulation shows difference

The BUL itself has created a programme for the virtual reality goggles in which a tractor crash is simulated. The first time you don't wear a harness, the second time you do. "We take these goggles to trade fairs and show visitors what a difference the harness can make," explains Frey.

The operator feels like they are sitting in a tractor. You hold a joystick in your hand with which you can turn the ignition key, fasten your seatbelt or even pick up your mobile phone, just like in real life.

In the first attempt, you start the tractor, drive off without fastening your seatbelt. The mobile phone rings and suddenly a tree falls onto the road in front of the tractor. The disaster takes its course. The tractor veers off the road. It overturns in a matter of seconds. The driver is thrown out of the cab and run over by the tractor. And then it's over.

Accident prevention with VR

This exercise was designed to show how important it is to stay in the driver's seat. And only the seatbelt can help you do that.

This year, appearances are planned at Agrovina in Martigny VS, the agricultural contractor conference in Granges-Paccot FR, Tier & Technik in St. Gallen, the agricultural trade fair in Thun BE and Agrama in Bern. At these events, visitors can experience the tractor crash for themselves using virtual reality glasses.

Source: bauernzeitung / schweizerbauer