Fall has arrived in Soutetheast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas. Halloween is approaching and signs are appearing for haunted houses, corn mazes and hayrides. All of these fall activities can be enjoyable, but dangerous, if not enjoyed safely and responsibly.

On October 4, 2014, 35-year-old Crystal Coffman was sitting on the fender of an Oliver tractor during a St. Francois County hayride when the driver downshifted the tractor and the subsequent jolt caused Coffman to fall off the fender. She was then ran over by the tractor and sustained serious injuries. Ms. Coffman’s accident was just one of several hayride accidents reported nationwide in the past year.

Hayrides are not regulated directly under Missouri state law. Section 316.203(1)(c) RSMo., specifically exempts hayrides from amusement rides which are subject to state inspection and permitting. Further, while Section 304.665 RSMo., provides that no one shall ride in the open bed of a truck on Missouri roads, Section 304.665.2(5) States that the law doesn’t apply to

“any person riding in the unenclosed bed of a truck if such truck is being operated solely for the purposes of participating in a special event and it is necessary that the person ride in such unenclosed bed due to a lack of available seating. “Special event”, for the purposes of this section, is a specific social activity of a definable duration which is participated in by the person riding in the unenclosed bed.”

Here are ten tips to safely enjoy hayrides, whether you are organizing one or simply participating as a rider:

1. Choose the hayride route carefully, inspecting it for hazards.
2. Make sure the wagon has sturdy side panels. Don’t use flatbed-type wagons without rails.
3. Avoid on-road travel if possible. A ride around a level farm field is much safer than dealing with auto and truck traffic.
4. Make sure the tractor and wagon are equipped with adequate road and safety lighting and warning signs if the hayride is on the road.
5. Insist that the tractor operator drive slowly on or off the road.
6. Be careful when finding a place to sit. Your foot could easily slip between bales if you walk on them. Don’t permit standing or crawling around while the wagon is moving.
7. Don’t allow throwing of any objects—including hay or straw—in or out of the wagon.
8. Supervise the loading or unloading of passengers from the wagon.
9. Don’t allow children to play on parked or unattended tractors or wagons.
10. Make sure that all passengers keep their arms and legs in the wagon.

Enjoy the fall season safely! Contact us if you or a loved one have been injured on a hayride or other outdoor activity due to another’s negligence.