Agricultural tractors conformity to the Brazilian traffic lighting and signaling legislation

ABSTRACT: Increasing the agricultural machinery visibility makes public roadways traffic safer by reducing the number of accidents and their severity. The study aimed to verify the compliance of new agricultural tractors with Brazilian law, given by, CONTRAN Resolution N° 454, NR12 and NR31, regarding the presence of lighting and signaling elements for traffic. The study was carried out in agricultural machinery dealers of seven brands, corresponding to 50 different models of new wheeled agricultural tractors. The items that was not present in total tractors sample are the rear position lamp, the reverse light and the rear retro-reflector. In addition, only one of the seven brands studied showed complete compliance with evaluated elements. Although, the Brazilian legislation specify the presence of lighting and signaling items for agricultural tractors traffic, there is not fully comply on tractors models analyzed and the Brazilian law are not homogeneously met by the agricultural tractor manufacturers in the verified sample, what can be leading to tractors traffic accident occurrences.

The study was carried out in agricultural machinery dealers located at Rio grande do Sul state central region. It corresponded to 50 different new wheeled agricultural tractors models, manufactured or assembled in the country in 2017. This delimitation was designed to evaluate the original factory characteristics. Seven agricultural tractors brands were evaluated, two belonging to the AgCO group: Massey Fergusson and Valtra; two from the CNH Industrial group: Case IH and New Holland; Agrale; John Deere and LS Tractor. For subsequent comparison purposes, without judging the company's manufacturers of the covered brands or their dealers, they were randomly named Brand A, B, C, D, E, F and G. Furthermore, citing trademarks does not imply endorsement or recommendation by the authors.
According the referred Brazilian legislation, nine lighting and signaling elements were verified: dipped-beam light; upper-beam light; front direction indicator lamp; hazard warning signal; rear direction indicator lamp; rear-position lamp; stop lamp; reversing lamp and rear retro-reflector, showed in figure 1. The procedure adopted for the data collection was visual inspection, which occurred directly, indicating the presence. In addition, the tractor images were photographed using the Sony Cyber-shot Dsc W120 7.2 Mega pixels digital camera.
Regarding the nine lighting and signaling elements evaluated in the 50 different tractor models, 67% of them are present in all verified models. The elements present in total tractor models evaluated are the dipped-beam light, upper-beam light, front direction indicator lamp, hazard warning signal, rear direction indicator lamp and stop lamp.
The elements that were not present in all evaluated tractors were the rear-position lamp, the reversing lamp and the rear retro-reflector. The reversing lamp and the rear retro-reflector were present in almost a third part of the sample, this low compliance could be due they are being required only by CONTRAN Resolution N° 454 (2013). In relation to the rear-position lamp, it was obtained 92% of the presence, in the evaluated models. According BARBIERI (2018), a 100% of tractors with power above 36.58 Kw presented the rear-position lamp in his study. CORREA et al. (2005) point out as a result of their verification of safety requirements on Brazilian agricultural tractors, that the headlamp is most frequently available. However, the stop lamp was present in 77% of the sample, the hazard warning signal in 64.5% and the direction indicator lamp in 54.8%. The negative highlight is the absence of reversing lamp in 90.3% of the models that they evaluated. Comparing the results, it is clear the evolution in the presence of mandatory devices in agricultural tractors, but the compliance with the current Brazilian legislation is not total. In relation to the agricultural tractors brands evaluated, together, they offer 68% of the 240 models marketed in the country, according to the Brazilian Tractors Yearbook (2017). Since Brazilian law is not fully met by the tractors manufactures evaluated, it is important to analyze the compliance provided by tractor brands. Figure 2 shows the information related to the presence percentage of the studied elements compliance, by evaluated brand.
The analysis of the information presented in figure 2 indicated that 86% of the brands studied do not comply with the legislation in the theme. Therefore, only Brand E offers in 100% of its models all lighting and signaling elements. This fact demonstrated that there is no supply uniformity by the manufacturing companies in lighting and signaling elements for traffic on agricultural tractors models. The agricultural machines manufacturers, despite knowing certain technical standards, do not use them in a correct and homogeneous way, what contribute to the tractors models offered in Brazil are not standardized (ALONÇO et al., 2006). BAESSO et al. (2018) with the objective of observing the existence of ergonomics and safety items in agricultural tractors and comparing the results with the respective Brazilian laws, observed that 48% of the tractors studied did not meet these standards. Similar results occurred in studies by MATTAR et al. (2010) which determined the need for greater attention from national agricultural tractors manufacturers on occupational safety standards. In complement, rules, standardization and adherence to them may also lead to uniformity.
The greater adherence by tractors manufacturers to lighting and signaling standards can be correlated to the reduction of fatalities in accidents, since these elements provide a greater possibility of visualization of the agricultural tractor on the roadway (gKRITZA et al., 2010;gREENAN et al., 2016;RAMIREZ et al., 2016). However, the low enforcement of legislation related to the topic may be related to the result of not total manufacturers compliance on tractors lighting and signaling elements. According to the World Health Organization WHO (2015), the reduction of traffic accidents can occur through the application of road safety laws, which help to improve the users behavior.
Regardless of the consumer market, it is imperative that agricultural tractors manufacturers comply fully with applicable safety legislation and standards in order to reduce possible causes of accidents. According to MATTAR et al. (2010), compliance with safety standards, allows better ergonomic conditions for agricultural tractors operators, acting as a preventive action against possible occupational accidents. It is important to emphasize that manufacturing companies operating in global markets must comply with the local markets regulations.
Although, the Brazilian legislation specify the presence of lighting and signaling items for agricultural tractors traffic, there is not fully comply on tractors models analyzed and the Brazilian law are not homogeneously met by the agricultural tractor manufacturers in the verified sample, what can be leading to tractors traffic accident occurrences.