ERR News – The Central Union of Estonian Farmers is protesting reforms in a new traffic law that would prohibit children from driving their parents tractors on farms.
Specifically, the measure requires driver’s licenses even when operating a tractor on private property.
“This reform would take away the legal right for children of farmers to learn to drive machines and to help their parents with farm work,” said the union in a statement.
In practice, the farming representatives said, children begin helping around the farm at a young age, which entails driving tractors and operating other machinery under the guidance of their parents.
“This has been a fantastic way to teach children good work habits and responsibility. The practical prohibition of such practices through the traffic law would promote laziness,” said the statement.
The organization said the practice is common in the Nordic countries and elsewhere in Europe as well.
