Should Farmers road time be restricted?

mikemac2

TheQuietFella wrote: »

I appreciate that this is the season for the farming community but it's not only them who need to use the road and with a little more urgency so should the farming community be limited to using the road between the hours of 18:00 & 06:00.

Funny you pick those hours because they can start fueling up at 4am and might not finish until 11pm

Must be grand to have a 9-5 job OP while they work 15 plus hours a day and have to take your scorn

Maybe the Sunday pleasure drivers out for a spin and a picnic can get off the road, hey they have no reason to hold up workers

emaherx

Ginger83 wrote: »

I went to watch a tractor run recently. I counted 22....yes i kid you not...22 childr drove past on mobiles. Not to mention 3 in a tractor with 1 seat.

Thoughts?

I drive down the M50 regularly, wouldn't take long to get to 22 if counting people driving cars with phone in hand.

I'd have to stop the engine in my tractor to have a conversation either hands free or with phone in hand. Most tractors I see at tractor runs would be similar except the ones with passenger seats of coarse

Heckler

traco wrote: »

Must check out that 100mph road???

OK i got the figures wrong. You know what I mean ffs. Its a road designed for fast moving traffic. Not a tractor moving at 20mph.

Ginger83

emaherx wrote: »

I drive down the M50 regularly, wouldn't take long to get to 22 if counting people driving cars with phone in hand.

I'd have to stop the engine in my tractor to have a conversation either hands free or with phone in hand. Most tractors I see at tractor runs would be similar except the ones with passenger seats of coarse

Most lads with phones to their ears must be exercising their arms so

3 seats in a cab, thats a new 1 on me. 1 over the pto shaft too i'd say.

emaherx

Heckler wrote: »

OK i got the figures wrong. You know what I mean ffs. Its a road designed for fast moving traffic. Not a tractor moving at 20mph.

It's funny most roads are just tarmac'd old cow paths, maybe cars should be banned from using them when farmers need them. That would make things safer.

emaherx

Ginger83 wrote: »

Most lads with phones to their ears must be exercising their arms so

3 seats in a cab, thats a new 1 on me. 1 over the pto shaft too i'd say.

Or talking to themselves.

Trantors have 3 seats. Some zetors also have 3 seats (folding one at left door and one behind driver). I'm sure there are others.


A much bigger issue than mobile phone use is car drivers inability to understand that indicators on tractors mean the same thing as on other vehicles.

traco

Heckler wrote: »

OK i got the figures wrong. You know what I mean ffs. Its a road designed for fast moving traffic. Not a tractor moving at 20mph.

I hear what your saying but that’s the N25 ins’t it?? I think it’s 120 from the tunnel to Carrigtohill, don’t know if it goes all the way to Middleton as it’s a stretch of road I’m rarely on. Either way that’s irrelevant. As it’s an N road the tractor is permitted as are cyclists, 50cc scooters and horses.

If it’s a motorway and its a regular old school Massey or Ford not capable of the min motorway speed limit the he shouldn’t be there as it’s a legal.

I’d say take it up with C Co Co as the speed limits on that road would appear to be inappropriate for it’s designation. From what I recall it wouldn’t be to the same standard as many of the other N dual carriageways around the country that are 100kph

Heckler

emaherx wrote: »

It's funny most roads are just tarmac'd old cow paths, maybe cars should be banned from using them when farmers need them. That would make things safer.

Is that the best you can come up with ? really The motorway from Cork to Dublin was a tarmaced boreen trodden by miles of cows back in the day ?

Just stop.

emaherx

Heckler wrote: »

Is that the best you can come up with ? really The motorway from Cork to Dublin was a tarmaced boreen trodden by miles of cows back in the day ?

Just stop.

No. I said most roads. You never specified any road or motorway for that matter! You said something about 100mph which is not a speed on any road so I presumed you ment 100kph which would have ruled out motorways.

Obviously I don't believe any class of vehicle should be banned at any time of day, but it's no more ridiculous than original question in this thread.

Heckler

emaherx wrote: »

No. I said most roads. You never specified any road or motorway for that matter!

Seriously. Stop.

Ginger83

emaherx wrote: »

Or talking to themselves.

Trantors have 3 seats. Some zetors also have 3 seats (folding one at left door and one behind driver). I'm sure there are others.


A much bigger issue than mobile phone use is car drivers inability to understand that indicators on tractors mean the same thing as on other vehicles.

Most yolks dont have indicators or brake lights and when they do they're not used!

emaherx

Ginger83 wrote: »

Most yolks dont have indicators or brake lights and when they do they're not used!

Well mine do. They are just ignored completely.

emaherx

Heckler wrote: »

Seriously. Stop.

Seriously stop what?
I'm supposed to know you ment Cork/Dublin Motorway?

Heckler

BMW recalled thousands of cars for having non working indicators.

Heckler

They took it back as being driver error.

Heebie

Definitely needs to be restricted to only as much time as it takes farmers to do their farming, get their goods to market, and get where they need to go.

That's probably going to vary wildly from farmer to farmer, though, so it'll be hard to regulate.

893bet

Heebie wrote: »

Definitely needs to be restricted to only as much time as it takes farmers to do their farming, get their goods to market, and get where they need to go.

That's probably going to vary wildly from farmer to farmer, though, so it'll be hard to regulate.

Do you think they take the tractors for a spin otherwise that doing their farming work?

studdlymurphy

And while we are at it cyclists, mopeds,elderly and learners.

Grueller

BarryD2 wrote: »

Ah now, many of us appreciate our farming neighbours and happy to give & take. But I do have an issue with some, particularly contractors rushing between jobs. Either not pulling over, travelling in convoys & sometimes at relatively high speeds on narrow country roads. How there aren't more serious accidents with some of these lads is beyond me. You come around a bend and there's a huge machine bearing towards you taking up most of the road. All you can do is slam on the brakes and turn sharply into the ditch.

So what you are saying is that you are travelling at a speed that is in excess of that which allows you to take account of dangers around the next blind spot in the road.

whisky_galore

studdlymurphy wrote: »

And while we are at it cyclists, mopeds,elderly and learners.

Basically, anyone who isn't a car driver with full licence aged 25-50.

Bass Reeves

Grueller wrote: »

So what you are saying is that you are travelling at a speed that is in excess of that which allows you to take account of dangers around the next blind spot in the road.

I have to agree with Brian on this there is an issue with tge speed that some agri vehicles do on narrow roads. With max speeds now hitting 50 and 60 kph some tractor drivers are going a little fast at times.

There is also an issue with machine width. I have seen loaders and tractor with mowers that are over 8' wide some hitting 10' in width. Normally such machines should have another vehicle travelling in front to warn on coming traffic

Donald Trump

lazeedaisy wrote: »

I have to say, living in a rural environment, and having to travel some distance to work, that most tractors pull in once they see 5 or 6 cars behind. I got used to them (we don't have that in Dublin ��), but now I'm well used to it and give myself extra time just in case. Sunday drivers are worse than farmers though, don't get me started on them,

My argument de Jour, is the selfish contractors who recently worked until well after midnight and started up again at 5am in the field next door, for two days, do I have to put up with this, as no other business in the country would get away with it.

Again being from Dublin I'm slowly coming to terms of what is and isn't acceptable in such rural environments,

But I do agree that we have got to be in less of a rush on the road no matter who we are behind, and if you are given time to ponder, do that and don't get good knickers in a twist!

Feckin' blow-ins. Away with ya back up to the big schmoke where ya belong


:pac:

Macy0161

Everyone, get out of the way of cars!

I live in a rural location - I'm held up far more by other cars, than by tractors (or cyclists, or pedestrians). I get stuck behind a tractor or cyclist for a few seconds/ maybe a couple minutes max, waiting for a safe overtake - and it's normally oncoming cars that are the delay in that - where as you can stuck behind a car for kilometer after kilometer...

aido79

emaherx wrote: »

It's funny, cause most of those roads with nowhere safe for you to overtake also have nowhere safe for tractors to pull in to let traffic pass.

Maybe they could do what they do in Australia. On roads like that there is usually overtaking lanes every few kilometres where the road changes to two lanes for a couple of hundred metres and then back to single lane. It gives enough time for slow moving vehicles to stay in the left lane and faster vehicles overtake using the additional lane.
It would be highly unusual to see a tractor on Australian roads but you would never be stuck behind one for miles like you can often be in Ireland.

Reggie.

Bass Reeves wrote: »

I have to agree with Brian on this there is an issue with tge speed that some agri vehicles do on narrow roads. With max speeds now hitting 50 and 60 kph some tractor drivers are going a little fast at times.

There is also an issue with machine width. I have seen loaders and tractor with mowers that are over 8' wide some hitting 10' in width. Normally such machines should have another vehicle travelling in front to warn on coming traffic

Think the limit is 10 foot atm before you need an escort

FishOnABike

traco wrote: »

I hear what your saying but that’s the N25 ins’t it?? I think it’s 120 from the tunnel to Carrigtohill, don’t know if it goes all the way to Middleton as it’s a stretch of road I’m rarely on. Either way that’s irrelevant. As it’s an N road the tractor is permitted as are cyclists, 50cc scooters and horses.

If it’s a motorway and its a regular old school Massey or Ford not capable of the min motorway speed limit the he shouldn’t be there as it’s a legal.

I’d say take it up with C Co Co as the speed limits on that road would appear to be inappropriate for it’s designation. From what I recall it wouldn’t be to the same standard as many of the other N dual carriageways around the country that are 100kph

It must be a while since you were on that road.

The section of the N25 from just past the dunkettle interchange to carrigtwohill east (approx 15km) is HQDC with grade separated junctions, 120kmh is a perfectly comfortable speed on that section of road.

From carrigtwohill east to Midleton is dual carriageway with a number of at grade junctions and a 100kmh limit. I'd be more concerned at the one or two right turns allowed on this section than the perfectly appropriate 120kmh limit on the HQDC section of road.

Macy0161

Bass Reeves wrote: »

I have to agree with Brian on this there is an issue with tge speed that some agri vehicles do on narrow roads.

You're only supposed to drive at a speed that allows you to stop in the distance you can see. Anyone coming around a blind corner at a speed they can't stop is the problem, not the tractor. Or the potential mother and child or other pedestrian. Or the cyclist.

The debates around our use of roads is ridiculously skewed now that other road users are expected to change their behaviours to take into account the poor practice (often illegal/ contrary to the rules of the road) of car drivers.

Isambard

one post spawns 6 pages and the OP is not seen again. Trolling worthy of an award

Ginger83

emaherx wrote: »

Well mine do. They are just ignored completely.

The problem with that is you'll probably be the cause of an accident some day due to your ignorance.

There's an old boy near us with a very old tractor. The lights are broken years so he drives at night with the hazards on, we'd a few close calls.....if ever there was an opportunity for a claim....knew i should not have scrapped the auld car :rolleyes:

Bass Reeves

Macy0161 wrote: »

You're only supposed to drive at a speed that allows you to stop in the distance you can see. Anyone coming around a blind corner at a speed they can't stop is the problem, not the tractor. Or the potential mother and child or other pedestrian. Or the cyclist.

The debates around our use of roads is ridiculously skewed now that other road users are expected to change their behaviours to take into account the poor practice (often illegal/ contrary to the rules of the road) of car drivers.

You are presuming that the car driver is coming around the corner and that the tractor driver can stop. The duty of care goes both ways. A 10' loading shovel coming around a corner or a tractor at 30-40KPH has the same duty of care as a car drivers. I have met ( and I am involved in the agri sector) these and only that I could stick my vehicule and go up on the ditch to let them pass was the only way to avoid an serious. accident.

I was lucky in case that there was no pedestrian as that was the only exit. The tractor driver could not stop and I was going slower than him in a van. I have no issue with pulling in on straight stretches to allow these agri machines to go on there meery way as it is faster and easier for me to pull in than them. But there is an issue at the speed they travel. From my experience it is related mostly to pit silage crews.

aido79

Ginger83 wrote: »

The problem with that is you'll probably be the cause of an accident some day due to your ignorance.

There's an old boy near us with a very old tractor. The lights are broken years so he drives at night with the hazards on, we'd a few close calls.....if ever there was an opportunity for a claim....knew i should not have scrapped the auld car :rolleyes:

Why don't you report him? Your next close call or someone elses might end up being a fatality.

Dakota Dan

Say my name wrote: »

Bad news is machines are still getting bigger and bigger.
The days of the Ferguson 20 are over.

It's only contractors that can afford these machines now however and they may work night and day to make them pay when the weather plays ball.

There's a 600hp tracked case tractor here now in Wexford. Imagine meeting that on the road!!

We have bigger machines on roads that were designed for a horse and cart.

May Contain Small Parts

Bass Reeves wrote: »

You are presuming that the car driver is coming around the corner and that the tractor driver can stop. The duty of care goes both ways. A 10' loading shovel coming around a corner or a tractor at 30-40KPH has the same duty of care as a car drivers. I have met ( and I am involved in the agri sector) these and only that I could stick my vehicule and go up on the ditch to let them pass was the only way to avoid an serious. accident.

I was lucky in case that there was no pedestrian as that was the only exit. The tractor driver could not stop and I was going slower than him in a van. I have no issue with pulling in on straight stretches to allow these agri machines to go on there meery way as it is faster and easier for me to pull in than them. But there is an issue at the speed they travel. From my experience it is related mostly to pit silage crews.

I'm not sure you're thinking about the same thing. I think previous poster was talking about a car coming around a blind corner at say 80kmh, unable to see that there's a tractor travelling at 40kmh in the same direction and running into the back of them. That situation would be 100% the car drivers fault.

In your example you're talking about a large piece of equipment that extends over the centre line of the road? In this case it's case of the equipment driver to avoid crashes as they're technically driving on the wrong side of the road... Though sure, experience on driving narrow roads tells you that there can be a nasty surprise around any corner and to keep that in mind as you're driving.

May Contain Small Parts

Dakota Dan wrote: »

We have bigger machines on roads that were designed for a horse and cart.

Rural roads weren't designed at all. At best urban roads were designed for a horse and cart.

Dakota Dan

Odelay wrote: »

Who was the politian that said farmers should not drive on the roads but get to their destination by driving in the fields?

Goes to show any fool can be a politician.

Dakota Dan

Isambard wrote: »

one post spawns 6 pages and the OP is not seen again. Trolling worthy of an award

He went to bed early to get up half an hour earlier to allow for delays.

Ginger83

aido79 wrote: »

Why don't you report him? Your next close call or someone elses might end up being a fatality.

Sure i'd be laughed at, farmers are a law onto themselves.

We meet the same tractor with three 70-80yr olds in it heading for mass every sunday.

emaherx

Ginger83 wrote: »

The problem with that is you'll probably be the cause of an accident some day due to your ignorance.

There's an old boy near us with a very old tractor. The lights are broken years so he drives at night with the hazards on, we'd a few close calls.....if ever there was an opportunity for a claim....knew i should not have scrapped the auld car :rolleyes:

How the hell am I ignorant for having working lights? If I'm turning right and have indicators on (and working/ clearly visible) then anyone over taking me is in the wrong and is clearly the ignorant party.

emaherx

Ginger83 wrote: »

Sure i'd be laughed at, farmers are a law onto themselves.

We meet the same tractor with three 70-80yr olds in it heading for mass every sunday.

You obviously have a real issue with farmers. But the Gards/RSA have really been clamping down on unsafe machines on the road and rightly so.

No unroady machine should be on the road ever but your claims are far from the norm or maybe you happen to live beside the worst farms in the country.

I agree there are too many farmers driving machines which are not in good condition and most are from an older generation. But most I see are in good condition and the standards are definitely improving.

emaherx

aido79 wrote: »

Maybe they could do what they do in Australia. On roads like that there is usually overtaking lanes every few kilometres where the road changes to two lanes for a couple of hundred metres and then back to single lane. It gives enough time for slow moving vehicles to stay in the left lane and faster vehicles overtake using the additional lane.
It would be highly unusual to see a tractor on Australian roads but you would never be stuck behind one for miles like you can often be in Ireland.

Over taking lanes would not be practical for every regional road in the country. Who would pay for construction/additional land?


In Australia very few farms would be devided by roads at all, meaning most tractors would never have to go on a road. All farmers would love to be in that situation but can't work here.

Ginger83

emaherx wrote: »

You obviously have a real issue with farmers. But the Gards/RSA have really been clamping down on unsafe machines on the road and rightly so.

No unroady machine should be on the road ever but your claims are far from the norm or maybe you happen to live beside the worst farms in the country.

I agree there are too many farmers driving machines which are not in good condition and most are from an older generation. But most I see are in good condition and the standards are definitely improving.

No issue, i know alot of sound farmers.

100% agree that standards are improving but a blind eye being turned to alot also.

whisky_galore

Find it interesting that you can get a licence to drive a W category at age 16 without any experience.

That was fine in the days when tractors were a little bigger than a ride-on lawnmower and barely managed 15-20mph, but there are some real fast monsters on the road now.

Ginger83

whisky_galore wrote: »

Find it interesting that you can get a licence to drive a W category at age 16 without any experience.

That was fine in the days when tractors were a little bigger than a ride-on lawnmower and barely managed 15-20mph, but there are some real fast monsters on the road now.

Can you tow at 16 on a W or is there a test required?

whisky_galore

Ginger83 wrote: »

Can you tow at 16 on a W or is there a test required?

Don't think there's a test for towing with W, unlike cars/4wd's.

theyoungchap

_Brian wrote: »

Irish motorists are the most narkey moaning bunch of begrudgers ever.

They hate;
Tractors
Cyclists
Trucks
Busses
Taxis
Pedestrians
Older drivers
Learner drivers

Just learn to share the road. I drive for my day job and farm too. Accept that you are just one road user and your not the most important either.

People need to get some perspective, op was probably delayed by 5-10 minutes total and somehow that’s sufficient to come on the internet rambling on about ruining someone livelihood because they were delayed 5 minutes - one time.
FFS !

He probably wasted longer writing the post than he did stuck behind the tractor. If you have a problem with tractors, etc stay inside the M50. Or leave 5-10 minutes earlier. Get over it, there is a lot of cars out there and farmer can't pull in to let each one past. Before he knows it it'll be as busy again. He's probably going a few miles max.

emaherx

whisky_galore wrote: »

Don't think there's a test for towing with W, unlike cars/4wd's.

No test for towing with a W licence. But a 16 year old can only get a learners permit. But no need for a licenced driver accompanying unless tractor is fitted with passenger seat, most modern higher speed/horse power tractors have passenger seats so technically can't have an unaccompanied L driver.

theyoungchap

emaherx wrote: »

Over taking lanes would not be practical for every regional road in the country. Who would pay for construction/additional land?


In Australia very few farms would be devided by roads at all, meaning most tractors would never have to go on a road. All farmers would love to be in that situation but can't work here.

I think the original poster is mixing it up with an episode of Outback Truckers........

emaherx

Ginger83 wrote: »

but a blind eye being turned to alot also.

That blind eye has regained sight. Check out the Garda Twitter account, they love picturing dodgy tractors they have nabbed. Also RSA have had tractor drivers disqualified from driving by adding points for each fault they find a check points.

monument

Given the OP has not been back, locked.