The purpose has been to increase knowledge about accidents involving A-tractors and moped cars, as well as to describe how these vehicles impact traffic safety and the safety of other road users. The study involved a review of the literature, interviews with police officers, and the accident data.
A compilation of traffic accidents from 2016 to 2022, where the driver of the A-tractor or moped car was between 14 and 20 years old, showed that there were seven fatal accidents involving A-tractors, resulting in deaths of seven young people in the A-tractor and two unprotected road users. There were no fatal accidents involving moped cars with drivers in this age group. Furthermore, there were 37 serious accidents involving A-tractors, with 24 of them occurring in 2021-2022. In these accidents during the entire period, 32 young people in A-tractors and eight other road users, primarily pedestrians or people on mopeds or motorcycles, were seriously injured. There were 12 serious accidents involving moped cars during this period, with ten young people in moped cars and three pedestrians being seriously injured. In the more severe A-tractor accidents, 91 percent of the drivers were male, while in the moped car accidents, 42 percent were male.
A total of 14 interviews were conducted with police officers throughout Sweden. It became clear that A-tractors and moped cars are a social phenomenon, where the "EPA culture" and group identity are important aspects. These vehicles are used for transportation in both rural and urban areas and for socializing with friends. How these vehicles are driven and affects traffic safety, for those inside the vehicles and other road users, as well as the environment. The police reported various driving behaviors and accidents and had opinions about the defects and deliberate modifications in these vehicles. They pointed out deficiencies in the legislation, especially in cases of speeding, where the police are required to technically prove manipulation, which consumes significant resources. The police were also critical of how inspection controls and the lack of oversight of the involved parties.