Tractor Watch (tractors on motorways thread)

Amtmann

I saw a combine harvester last night on the M8 Blackwater viaduct drawing its turbine behind it. It was unlit (at dusk!) and was taking up the emergency lane plus part of lane one on the main carriageway.

I called Fermoy Garda station and gave them a piece of my mind about fools who bring combines onto motorways. They agreed. When they called me back today it transpired that the Guards had given permission for the combine to use the motorway under escort, but had failed to tell the driver of the escorting vehicle (a white van with a flashing orange light) that he should drive behind, rather than in front of, the combine. In the end they were just cautioned.

mickydoomsux

More 'ah shoore it'll be grand' policing.

Why have a list of vehicles that are banned from the motorways if you just let them on if they ring you and then don't do anything serious about it when they don't do it properly?

whyulittle

Have encountered that loads of times on motorways. A wide load transporting plant machinary or prefabs, and the warning vehicle is driving in front of it. :rolleyes:

Stinicker

Encountered a Tractor and grain trailer myself yesterday on the M7 southbound between J10 & J11 south of Naas, I was coming into a bend doing about 120km and had to brake sharpish as a traffic jam appeared out of nowhere because of it. I was tempted to report it but didn't bother because this seems to be a regular occurance up there and nothing ever seems to be done about it.

NFD100

The guards really couldn't care less.

gmale

NFD100 wrote: »

The guards really couldn't care less.

In the first example the guards gave permission and then cautioned the drivers for not doing it properly! What would you want them to do? Arrest them, charge them, send them to court and prison? How much would that cost?

In the second example the guy didnt report it so how could the guards know? If there was a speed check or a checkpoint or a squad car on the road and the tractor was allowed just drive by then I would agree with you...but was there?

Whats the protocol for giving these types of vehicles permission for driving on Motorways?

Amtmann

gmale wrote: »

In the first example the guards gave permission and then cautioned the drivers for not doing it properly! What would you want them to do? Arrest them, charge them, send them to court and prison? How much would that cost?

Fine them for (1) driving in the emergency lane and (2) not having their lights on at dusk/dangerous driving. That wouldn't cost anything; in fact, it would generate money for the state.

scudster

Its not illegal to drive a tractor on a motorway once it can travel above 50km/h. Alot of fairly new tractor can achieve 50km/h or above so they are entitled to use motorways.

http://www.rulesoftheroad.ie/rules-for-driving/motorways/general-rules.html

Amtmann

scudster wrote: »

Its not illegal to drive a tractor on a motorway once it can travel above 50km/h. Alot of fairly new tractor can achieve 50km/h or above so they are entitled to use motorways.

http://www.rulesoftheroad.ie/rules-for-driving/motorways/general-rules.html

It is illegal to drive in the emergency lane though, which is what always ends up happening.

Plus, just because it is legal to drive some types of tractor on a motorway, that doesn't mean it's a good idea - least of all when perfectly good alternative routes are practically always available.

scudster

I agree with you on the driving on the hard shoulder bit. Its not smart at all. Your second point could be applied to L plate drivers. Theres far more of them using motorways than tractors. Tractors have same right to use motorways but I do see where the speed difference between them and cars would make them a hazard. Maybe they just need to be lit up better for motorway driving.

Redsoxfan

See it every so often on the M4 (between Maynooth and Celbridge). Have reported it once or twice. Can't recall which motorway I was on recently, but there was a tractor and trailer using the emergency lane/hard shoulder, travelling very slowly, sure enough, there was a van broken down/parked in the lane further up the road. Traffic was heavy and the tractor and trailer would have had to move out into the traffic to avoid the van. I didn't stick around to see the outcome...

Amtmann

scudster wrote: »

I agree with you on the driving on the hard shoulder bit. Its not smart at all. Your second point could be applied to L plate drivers. Theres far more of them using motorways than tractors. Tractors have same right to use motorways but I do see where the speed difference between them and cars would make them a hazard. Maybe they just need to be lit up better for motorway driving.

I think L drivers are a slightly separate issue, but I just cannot see ANY reason to allow tractors onto a motorway unless it is to strim verges as part of highway maintenance. I believe the RSA is planning an outright ban. I've emailed them to find out what the status is, and will post their reply as soon as I get it.

Redsoxfan

They should increase the minimum speed on a motorway while they are at it.

baalthor

Just on the motorway minimum speeds ...

The "Motorway Rules" signs at the M3/N52 junction contradict each other:

The Irish language sign says no vehicles under "30 msu" i.e 30mph - now why are they using mph?

The English sign says no vehicles under 30 km/h - surely the minimum speed is 50 km/h ?

Has any-one else noticed this or am I misreading the signs? I must try and get a picture next time ...

medoc

Has anyone any reason as to why the min speed is set at 50 km/h. Surely a faster speed would be more appropriate eg 65 or 70 km/h. On more than one ocasion I've encountered cars travelling at 50 to 60km/h on the M7 between Monasterevin and Newbridge. They caused large tailbacks due to cars and HVG's having to overtake. The road conditions were perfect at the time. Sorry this is slightly off topic.

There cant be any justification for Tractors to travel on Motorways unless during roadworks. If the road wasn't there they would have to travel through the towns anyway and there are no field accesses on the mothorway.

Stonewolf

I was under the impression there wasn't actually a minimum speed limit but that it was just a ban on vehicles incapable of a certain speed.

Redsoxfan

Stonewolf wrote: »

I was under the impression there wasn't actually a minimum speed limit but that it was just a ban on vehicles incapable of a certain speed.

I'm a bit unsure on that myself-the signs say 'slow vehicles (less than 50 km/h)', but I always thought that as long as the vehicle is capable of such a speed, then it was legal.

Stinicker

Another thing I spotted in a few places on the M8 up along on Wednesday was that alot of the 2" and 3" rock which is used as aggregate at the verge of the hard shoulder had been swept out into the blacktop of the hardshoulder itself. If you were unfortunate to be shoved into the hardshoulder driving over this stuff at >150km/h you would be in serious trouble.

I was doing about 165km/h when I blew a back tyre and had to make for the hardshoulder in a hurry and if this rubble had been there a tyre would have been the last of my worries.

mickydoomsux

Yeah, saw about 3 or 4 seperate patches of that on the stretch of motorway between Waterford and Kilkenny the other day.

Absolutely lethal when you think about it.

absolutegroove

Would this tractor be allowed on a Motorway? :eek:

Fast Forward to about 50 secs in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lmE17Dg23w

-Chris-

Jesus, that's probably even more dangerous than a slower tractor.

That being said, the motorway's probably the safest place for it. It shouldn't be on "normal" roads at that speed.

flazio

Stinicker wrote: »

Another thing I spotted in a few places on the M8 up along on Wednesday was that alot of the 2" and 3" rock which is used as aggregate at the verge of the hard shoulder had been swept out into the blacktop of the hardshoulder itself. If you were unfortunate to be shoved into the hardshoulder driving over this stuff at >150km/h you would be in serious trouble.

I was doing about 165km/h when I blew a back tyre and had to make for the hardshoulder in a hurry and if this rubble had been there a tyre would have been the last of my worries.

Maybe that's why they set the legal limit at 120km/h so that you have a better chance of recovery should something go wrong.
Irish motorways are not being built as unofficial autobahns.

freighter

I am a hgv driver and use the motorways all the time and never drive in lane 2. However I will get one point and a fine if the guards catch me overtaking a tractor on the motorway. What are we supposed to do?? stay behind them or risk losing our licence over these farmers.

-Chris-

I think Niceguyalways said in a Motors thread that the Gardai will normally consider a tractor to be a slow moving vehicle and HGVs are allowed in the outside lane in order to overtake them, as long as they don't cause a major hold up and they try and get back to their normal lane as quickly as possible.

freighter

-Chris- wrote: »

I think Niceguyalways said in a Motors thread that the Gardai will normally consider a tractor to be a slow moving vehicle and HGVs are allowed in the outside lane in order to overtake them, as long as they don't cause a major hold up and they try and get back to their normal lane as quickly as possible.

A mate of mine got done by the traffic corps. He was on the M8 and stuck behind a jcb fasttrac doing 60kmh. He had his indicator on for ages tryin to change lanes and no one would let him out. The traffic corps car then came along in the fast lane and strarted flashing him so he he moved out to overtake him. When he passed out and and moved back in the guard pulled him in and went mad. He said he was flashing him to stay there behind the tractor. He got fined anyway. He never stopped the tractor btw that day..:(

-Chris-

freighter wrote: »

A mate of mine got done by the traffic corps. He was on the M8 and stuck behind a jcb fasttrac doing 60kmh. He had his indicator on for ages tryin to change lanes and no one would let him out. The traffic corps car then came along in the fast lane and strarted flashing him so he he moved out to overtake him. When he passed out and and moved back in the guard pulled him in and went mad. He said he was flashing him to stay there behind the tractor. He got fined anyway. He never stopped the tractor btw that day..:(

That seems very unfair alright...

aujopimur

Tractors, learners, pedestrians, cyclists,all regular users of the M8 between Dunkettle and Watergrasshill.
Does anyone know why there is not signs prohibiting such users on this strech motorway.

NFD100

aujopimur wrote: »

Tractors, learners, pedestrians, cyclists,all regular users of the M8 between Dunkettle and Watergrasshill.
Does anyone know why there is not signs prohibiting such users on this strech motorway.

That is madness! There is going to be a horiffic accident.....................

Stinicker

NFD100 wrote: »

That is madness! There is going to be a horiffic accident.....................

Yeah especially coming the down the hill into Dunkettle, that could be nasty.

L1011

I phoned a cyclist in to Glanmire cop shop and the garda on the phone said "sure, thats not motorway when it goes to 100km/h".

If thats the level of knowledge of the local constabulary you're not going to see any enforcement!

Stinicker

MYOB wrote: »

I phoned a cyclist in to Glanmire cop shop and the garda on the phone said "sure, thats not motorway when it goes to 100km/h".

If thats the level of knowledge of the local constabulary you're not going to see any enforcement!

My undestanding was that the section down along there was still Motorway just with a 100km/h speed limit imposed. On Thursday at about 50 yards after the speed limit there was guards there shooting fish in a barrel as most cars came barrelling down into the 100km/h zone at about 130km/h.