Keven Moore: Did you know that every year people are killed on hayrides?

Every year, as the leaves change colors and pumpkins appear, many families look forward to fall outings and festivals, with hayrides being a cherished tradition for decades.

For profit and non-profit organizations offer a relaxing, scenic experience, typically involving a wagon or cart pulled by a tractor, horses, or a truck, filled with hay or straw for comfortable seating.

Many churches host hayrides on their properties or at a member’s farm, where participants sit on hay bales. Additionally, haunted attractions have introduced haunted hayrides and zombie paintball hayrides. Apple orchards also use wagons to transport guests to their fields for apple picking.

Modern hayrides are often commercial ventures, providing additional income for farms or operating independently. They may include stops at pumpkin patches or apple orchards and often lead to corn mazes.

These autumn traditions offer families and friends a chance to enjoy the crisp fall air and scenic landscapes. However, like any outdoor activity, hayrides come with their own set of risks. Unfortunately, each year, this cheerful and festive event sometimes ends in tragedy, with fatalities or serious injuries. It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt—or worse.

Just this past weekend alone October 11th-12th there were three incidents at three separate states involving two fatalities and multiple people injured:

• A 13-year-old boy in St. Augusta, Minn. was sadly killed after being run over at a haunted hayride on the grounds of the annual Harvest of Horror Haunted Hayride in St. Augusta, MN.

• In Allegan County, MI a SUV crashed into a tractor pulling a wagon with 9 passengers on a hayride on a roadway around 7:30p. The incident injured multiple on the wagon, and the driver and two other passengers. The incident is still under investigation.

• A 12-year-old boy was killed while jumping onto a Halloween hayride at the Haunted Hilltop in Harrison, TN, after a group of juveniles were hiding in the bushes to jump on the hayride and scare passengers. According to witnesses, the boy that was killed attempted to jump on the trailer and fell and was run over by the trailers at approximately 11 p.m. at night.

As a risk management and safety professional on a crusade to expose the dangers of hayrides, I sadly learn every year of these unnecessary and very preventable accidents that happen with a high degree of frequency every October. Hayrides are a quasi-amusement industry that is largely unregulated, with no uniform system for reporting injuries. The problem is very few states regulate these for profit and non-profit organizations that operate these hayrides. For instance:

• Connecticut, Texas, and Wyoming: These states have specific allowances for hayrides, such as permitting people to ride in open-bed pickups or flatbed trucks during hayrides.

• Tennessee: Exempts hayride participants from wearing seat belts.

• Pennsylvania: Has some of the toughest regulations and they enforce those regulations that include safety standards and inspection procedures for hayride amusements.

In most other states, hayrides aren’t regulated at the state level and are instead left to local authorities, which doesn’t necessarily improve safety.

I think that most safety experts would agree with me that if there were fatalities and numerous injuries every weekend throughout the entire year, regulations might change. However, since hayrides are primarily a seasonal activity in October, the situation remains largely unchanged each year.

When public events involve small children riding on moving equipment, especially during evening hours, accidents can unfortunately occur, sometimes with tragic outcomes. The risk of injuries from hayride accidents is notably high due to the large number of participants and the substantial size and weight of the equipment involved.

A significant issue is the lack of formal training for pulling trailers or wagons designed for cargo, not for carrying 12-24 people. Many of these trailers and wagons are in poor condition. Often times since they are intended for agricultural use, owners are not required to have a license to operate them on their property.

What I have found is that there is usually no formal training for pulling trailers or wagons meant for cargo, not people. Many trailers are in poor condition and not subject to strict regulations.

Many farm trailers and wagons are homemade, and there is no oversight to ensure they are built and maintained safely. Most states only require that the lights are functional at the time of registration if the gross weight exceeds 3,000 pounds.

A common carrier, responsible for transporting individuals, must adhere to the highest standard of care. However, seasonal hayride operators typically do not leave their property and are therefore not classified as common carriers, exempting them from stringent federal regulations. Additionally, since they are not officially recognized as amusement attractions, they are not subject to state or local inspections and safety regulations.

As a parent or consumer, it’s crucial to be aware that hayrides and the quasi-amusement industry are largely unregulated. This lack of oversight means there is no standardized system for reporting injuries, but the Consumer Product Safety Commission has noted a significant increase in serious injuries and fatalities associated with hayrides.

Many farms offering hayrides for profit or local church events often have insufficient liability insurance. Operators should consult with their insurance agents to ensure they have adequate coverage.

Safety Tips for Enjoying a Fall Hayride:

• Choose Planned Routes: Ensure routes are free of steep hills, bumps, and other hazards, and avoid on-road travel.

• Running Lights: Tractors and trailers should have operational running lights and slow-moving vehicle signs if on public roads.

• Safe Drivers: Drivers should be over 21, licensed, sober, experienced, and have a clean driving record.

• Communicated Safety Rules: Look for posted safety rules and choose hayrides that inform riders of these rules.

• Inspect Equipment: Ensure the tractor or vehicle can handle the trailer’s weight. Check for proper maintenance and secure hitch pins and safety chains. Inspect for defective side rails and platforms.

• Properly Equipped Wagons: Wagons should have high side rails for safety and back support. Drivers should carry cell phones, fire extinguishers, flashlights, and first-aid kits.

• Crowd Control: Use barricades or fencing at loading/unloading stations to control the flow of visitors. Ensure visitors enter and exit one at a time.

• Loading and Unloading: Use a sturdy stepping platform with a handrail. Passengers should not climb over the sides. Be cautious of slippery, wet straw.

• During the Ride: Only pull one wagon at a time, enforce a no-standing policy, and keep arms and legs inside the side rails. An adult attendant should supervise each trip, assist with boarding and exiting, and explain safety rules. Intoxicated riders should not be allowed.

By following these tips, you can enjoy a safe and fun hayride experience this fall.

Be Safe My Friends.

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