« Children’s safety in A-tractors are the responsibility of the parents »
As the number of A-tractors on our roads has become more, the accidents have also increased. In 2023, 504 persons were injured and two were killed, according to the Swedish Transport Agency. Folksam’s own investigations show that many accidents are caused by a lack of driving, that the young people themselves are causing and that a majority of those who were severely injured in trimmed vehicles. The Swedish Transport Agency must create the right conditions – while parents need to take greater responsibility for their young people driving safely.
There is a major problem with the fact that practice driving for A-tractor at present can only be done with a two-wheeled moped at a competent traffic school. There is also no type of driver test.
The Swedish Transport Agency has now proposed that exercise driving should be possible by four -wheeled vehicles under the auspices of the driving school from December 1 this year. But practice driving in driving school is voluntary and no requirement. It is also not allowed to exercise with A-tractor private. It is therefore likely that the proportion who will practice driving is relatively small.
Nearly half of the parents have practiced less than six times with their youth
In the EU proposed Changed driver’s license directives presented in March are introduced a new driver’s license called B1. It gives a person from the age of 15 the right to drive a speed -low car at maximum speed of 45 km/h. In order to drive such a vehicle, a driver test with a four -wheeled vehicle must be required. But there is nothing mentioned regarding compulsory practice driving on four wheels.
As it is today, and even after the Swedish Transport Agency’s new change in AM authorization in December 2025, it is sufficient for the youth to undergo an education that includes a certain number of hours of driving with two-wheeled mopeds, as well as a theory training with an approved test. Then it is free to go out in traffic with an A-tractor that is as large as a regular car, or even as a truck, as long as it does not go faster than 30 km/h.
There is currently no incentive for young people to want to practice with their parents after the driver’s license has been taken. Therefore, parents need to take an active role in guiding their young people. By driving and discussing traffic situations, the children can gain the knowledge they need to be safe on the roads.
Encouraging safe driving, use of a seat belt and following speed limits is crucial to reducing the number of accidents
The majority of The accidents with A-tractors occur the first three months after the young people started driving. Nearly half of the parents have practiced less than six times with their young people, and only one percent have practiced with an adult outside the household.
Trimming A-tractors is another major problem. There is twice as much risk of being a crash with a personal injury as a result of an A-tractor as it is in a regular passenger car, even though it is a slow-moving vehicle. In Folksam’s accident analysis from 2022, it was found that all severely injured in A-tractors sat unpainted in a trimmed vehicle where the speed at the time of the accident is estimated to have been well over 30 km/h.
However, a survey sent to parents whose young people run A-tractor, shows that many are aware of the problem and actively counteract trimming by controlling the vehicle or discussing the dangers with their young people. In addition, technical solutions can be used to counteract trimming, such as GPS transmitters showing how fast the vehicle is being moved forward and also where it is.
Folksam’s investigations Shows that parents mainly worry that other road users are wrong, but the reality is that in the accidents where A-tractors occur, young people are causing 90 percent of cases. This points to a need to improve young people’s knowledge and behavior in traffic. Encouraging safe driving, using a seat belt and following speed limits is crucial to reducing the number of accidents. Given sufficient traffic knowledge and compliance with laws and regulations, the A-tractor is a safer means of transport than both moped and moped car.
The Government has introduced new laws to increase the security of A-tractors, including requirements for belt use and restriction on the number of passengers. These apply since 2023. But the rule changes are probably not enough. Until practice driving can be done in four -wheeled vehicles, parents must take their own responsibility to get involved in the child’s road safety – for their children but also for everyone else who travels on our roads.
If you as parents know that your child is running a trimmed A-tractor and not acting, one can be convicted of permitting illegal driving
It is calculated Take several years before the EU’s fourth driver’s license directive, which entails a special eligibility (B1) for A-tractors, may begin to apply. In order not to override young people’s safety in traffic, one should:
1 Review the driving training. The Swedish Transport Agency should work to ensure that young people are required to exercise a certain number of hours in a four -wheeled vehicle through pure driving training in driving school. It is important that young people get the right training in how to behave in traffic and what risks exist. Risk education should therefore also be written specifically in theory education.
2 More initiatives to counteract trimming. The Swedish Transport Agency has proposed measures to reduce trimming A-tractors with the aim of entering into force this fall. But even if the permissible speed will be increased to 45 km/h for B1 cars in the new proposal from the EU, the need to counteract trimming remains for these vehicles as well. Those who want to trim their vehicles are likely to make it even if they are allowed to drive at 45 km/h.
3 Greater parental responsibility. Parents should practice with their young people even after the driver’s license has been taken. Although by law they are allowed to drive themselves with AM authorization, we recommend that parents get more involved, go with their young people and discuss and practice different traffic situations. One study shows that the majority of parents are worried about others on the roads-when in most cases their own young people in the A tractor are causing traffic accidents.
As a parent it is important to know the technical aspects of the A-tractor. Trimming an A-tractor is illegal but above all dangerous. If you, as parents, know that your child is driving a trimmed A-tractor and does not act, you can be convicted of permitting illegal driving. In addition to delaying the possibility for the youth, it can also take a driver’s license for a car, also lead to a fine or a driver’s license.
