Traffic Injuries and Fatalities in Farm-Labor Vehicles in California

This case study describes the California Highway Patrol’s Safety and Farm Labor Vehicle Education Program, aimed at reducing deaths and injuries from farm-labor vehicle crashes. The impetus was a horrific crash in 1999 in which 13 people died. A major contributing factor was unsafe design features in many farm-labor vehicles, many of which lacked seat restraints or had side-facing seats. These types of vehicles were exempt from California’s mandatory seat-belt law. Many farm laborers were Mexican immigrants who did not have vehicles or licenses and therefore were dependent on transportation provided by employers or commercial transport services. These laborers were accustomed to riding in unsafe vehicles, distrusted and feared the police, and were reluctant to complain due to their uncertain immigration status. The new response plan featured new state laws to improve farm-labor vehicle safety provisions. The California Highway Patrol then began a comprehensive inspection and public education and awareness regime.