Farming interests and farm machinery industry groups across Europe are preparing to resist a plan by the EU Commission to introduce mandatory ABS brakes on tractors.

The EU Regulation 2015/68 provides for mandatory ABS on tractors.

It is understood that CEMA, COPA-COGECA and CEETTAR, the farm machinery industry group, farm organisation and farm contractors, respectively, have decided to work together to resist the move.

There are claims and counter claims from safety campaigners and suppliers of the ABS system, with a strong case being made for not incurring any additional costs on tractor producers, which would in turn be passed on to the tractor buyer.

Against this background, German studies have shown that tractors are only involved in 0.59% (1,884) of all traffic accidents in Germany.

It found that most accidents with tractors happen at low speeds during cornering or crossing.

The study also found that only 3.7% (70) of traffic accidents (fatal and non-fatal) with tractors involved could have been prevented by a tractor fitted with ABS braking.

Only two standard tractor models, Fendt and JCB, are available with the option of an ABS systems.

CEMA, the farm machinery industry group claims that ABS braking systems will add between 4% and 5% to the price of new tractors.