Tractors on motorways

Casinoking

I was stopped by the guards today for driving a tractor on the motorway and told to get off at the next exit because I wasn't traveling fast enough. I pointed out that the big blue sign said no "slow vehicles - under 50km/h" and since I was doing closer to 60k I thought I was alright. The argument then became "tractors aren't allowed on motorways full stop". The guard said, correctly in fairness to him, that the vehicle was taxed as an agricultural tractor and that part of the definition of a tractor in the road traffic act is a vehicle that doesn't exceed 24mph (39km/h). He then asked why I was on the road, was I going to use the machine I was towing or was I delivering it to someone I'd sold it to. I'm sure if that was the case then his next argument would have been I wasn't using the tractor for the purposes of agriculture. This is a major grey area that's getting murkier by the year. Has anyone else had these problems, and has anyone been prosecuted along those lines? At that rate if the letter of the law is to be implemented then you shouldn't travel at more that 39km/h even if the tractor is capable of greater speeds. Then on the other hand you have the farmer in Mayo being prosecuted for driving too slowly and holding up traffic. Surely the law regarding the use of tractors on the road has to be updated and clarified as a matter of urgency, otherwise it's just one mans interpretation against anothers. I had a similar argument a few years ago when I was given 2 penalty points and fined for not wearing a seatbelt in a tractor, when I investigated the relevant legislation I came to the opinion I wasn't obliged to wear it. When I asked the department of transport for clarification I was told the interpretation of the legislation had nothing to do with them and was a matter for the courts. Luckily it didn't go that far, and my argument against the points and fine was successful, but it could have gone either way. As a contractor I spend a lot of time on the roads and I'd like to know exactly where I stand, instead of having to try to root out the laws bit by bit.

irish_bob

Casinoking wrote: »

I was stopped by the guards today for driving a tractor on the motorway and told to get off at the next exit because I wasn't traveling fast enough. I pointed out that the big blue sign said no "slow vehicles - under 50km/h" and since I was doing closer to 60k I thought I was alright. The argument then became "tractors aren't allowed on motorways full stop". The guard said, correctly in fairness to him, that the vehicle was taxed as an agricultural tractor and that part of the definition of a tractor in the road traffic act is a vehicle that doesn't exceed 24mph (39km/h). He then asked why I was on the road, was I going to use the machine I was towing or was I delivering it to someone I'd sold it to. I'm sure if that was the case then his next argument would have been I wasn't using the tractor for the purposes of agriculture. This is a major grey area that's getting murkier by the year. Has anyone else had these problems, and has anyone been prosecuted along those lines? At that rate if the letter of the law is to be implemented then you shouldn't travel at more that 39km/h even if the tractor is capable of greater speeds. Then on the other hand you have the farmer in Mayo being prosecuted for driving too slowly and holding up traffic. Surely the law regarding the use of tractors on the road has to be updated and clarified as a matter of urgency, otherwise it's just one mans interpretation against anothers. I had a similar argument a few years ago when I was given 2 penalty points and fined for not wearing a seatbelt in a tractor, when I investigated the relevant legislation I came to the opinion I wasn't obliged to wear it. When I asked the department of transport for clarification I was told the interpretation of the legislation had nothing to do with them and was a matter for the courts. Luckily it didn't go that far, and my argument against the points and fine was successful, but it could have gone either way. As a contractor I spend a lot of time on the roads and I'd like to know exactly where I stand, instead of having to try to root out the laws bit by bit.

that copper is earning his 1100 a week

fastrac

The RSA are bringing out new rules for tractors in the next few weeks.This has been driven by a strong Truckers lobby who want tractors stopped from doing commercial haulage of any kind .Of course its wrapped up in the usual health and safety ribbon . Also remember its not called agricultural diesel for nothing.We will end up with the U.K.system where you can hardly take a tractor out on the road on agri diesel.

reilig

fastrac wrote: »

The RSA are bringing out new rules for tractors in the next few weeks.This has been driven by a strong Truckers lobby who want tractors stopped from doing commercial haulage of any kind .Of course its wrapped up in the usual health and safety ribbon . Also remember its not called agricultural diesel for nothing.We will end up with the U.K.system where you can hardly take a tractor out on the road on agri diesel.

Yea, I have heard that the Haulage people want to see a level playing field which will see tractors doing commercial haulage run on Diesel that the full duty is paid on (ie. White diesel).

Farmers are still going to have to travel on the road, but it is going to be restricted.

ruxpin82

Come on, your asking for trouble driving on the motorway!
you can have all the flashing lights and reflectors you like but if your on a motorway taking up a lane with a 3m implement doing 30mph your going to look like a p**ck, and further fuel the truckers argument.

yeah, theres a big grey area, but its kind of in the farmers advantage, at the moment we're not forced to modify trailers and gear, or undergo regular testing, and still run on ag diesel, happy days.
Use some common sense, you make the rest of us look bad.:mad:

Casinoking

Actually it was closer to 40 mph with an implement narrower than the tractor, and I would have thought that taking up one lane with plenty of room to pass would be better than taking up the whole road. Don't see where the truckers argument comes into it when you're not hauling for hire, I was simply moving from one job to the next.

littletiger

What about the truckers who technically can't drive in the fast lane, how do they get by you?

Casinoking

Going a bit off topic now aren't we? If some old dear is happily, and quite legally, driving her Nissan micra along at 35mph they can't pass her either. The point of my original post was to highlight the grey areas relating to the legal use of tractors on public roads. As far as truckers are concerned, in my opinion they have every right to be pissed off if tractors are being used for non-agricultural haulage work at a fraction of the road tax and diesel costs. However, I'm talking about using them for agricultural purposes so as I've already said I don't see where that argument comes into it.