If a road is too narrow for a tractor, should it be driving there?

experiMental

I was driving down N2 today, and went around quite a sharp bend at around 60-70 kph (the speed limit was 80 in the area). The road had two lanes, no hard shoulder, and each lane was far too narrow for a typical tractor.

I drove on 10 km further, where there was a hard shoulder, and there was a tractor. I haven't seen any signs which said "warning, slow vehicles" or something like that anywhere in that area.

I was worrying that if I came around that sharp bend and if I suddenly saw a tractor, I would be completely gone. I was extremely lucky today.

So the question is, are tractors allowed to drive on such narrow country roads, where the speed limit can sometimes be 100kph?

spurious

In fairness the tractor has more right to be there than a 100km limit.
Yet another example of the daft and completely inappropriate speed limits on some roads.

Alanstrainor

In short. Yes that tractor can be driving there. It's a driver driving too fast to cope with the unexpected that would be in the wrong in that situation.

Avns1s

experiMental wrote: »

I was driving down N2 today, and went around quite a sharp bend at around 60-70 kph (the speed limit was 80 in the area). The road had two lanes, no hard shoulder, and each lane was far too narrow for a typical tractor.

I drove on 10 km further, where there was a hard shoulder, and there was a tractor. I haven't seen any signs which said "warning, slow vehicles" or something like that anywhere in that area.

I was worrying that if I came around that sharp bend and if I suddenly saw a tractor, I would be completely gone. I was extremely lucky today.

So the question is, are tractors allowed to drive on such narrow country roads, where the speed limit can sometimes be 100kph?

The tractor has every right to be there. So do you by the way, so long as you drive to the conditions you are in, which includes being able to stop in less than the distance you can see to be clear. Slow down!

Wishbone Ash

experiMental wrote: »

if I came around that sharp bend and if I suddenly saw a tractor, I would be completely gone

Therein lies your problem!

Regardless of you views on tractor on public roads, it could have been livestock, cyclists, pedestrians etc. Adjust your speed to the prevailing conditions and always assume that there may be something around the next bend.

Always expect the unexpected and bear in mind that, statistically, November is the most dangerous month for driving.

experiMental

spurious wrote: »

In fairness the tractor has more right to be there than a 100km limit.
Yet another example of the daft and completely inappropriate speed limits on some roads.

Why is nothing being done about changing the speed limits on these roads?

Sometimes people who don't know the area at all have to drive on them, so they wouldn't know what to expect. It's been a while since these new speed limits were put up, so I wonder why the local people are not objecting to them.

I mean, on one stretch of road, there was a row of private houses and farms, and a speed limit of 100kph nearby. There surely will be people who will use the speed limit as an excuse to drive too fast in this area.

drunkmonkey

experiMental wrote: »

Why is nothing being done about changing the speed limits on these roads?

It's not a target.

If you can't see what's coming round the corner you have to slow down so you'll be able to stop if necessary.
Changing the speed limit will do nothing, it's simple common sense.

BostonB

experiMental wrote: »

...
So the question is, are tractors allowed to drive on such narrow country roads, where the speed limit can sometimes be 100kph?

narrow country road....tractor...100kph

For me its not the tractor that looks out of place in that sentence.

ardmacha

Surely a vehicle is required to drive on its side of a white line?

Sometimes people who don't know the area at all have to drive on them, so they wouldn't know what to expect.

A driver should drive according to road conditions, the speed limit is not a guideline as to what speed to drive at.

Wishbone Ash

experiMental wrote: »

I was driving down N2 today, and went around quite a sharp bend at around 60-70 kph (the speed limit was 80 in the area). The road had two lanes, no hard shoulder, and each lane was far too narrow for a typical tractor

OP - are you sure it was the N2?

The N2 is a national primary route and I know it well as I have been using it for 25 years. There is no part of it which is too narrow for two standard tractors to meet. Trucks and buses meet each other at normal speeds on it. Most of the bends have neen straightened and those which remain could hardly be described as 'sharp'.

daveharnett

experiMental wrote: »

Why is nothing being done about changing the speed limits on these roads?

Because we expect drivers to behave like grownups and choose a sensible speed themselves?

experiMental wrote: »

Sometimes people who don't know the area at all have to drive on them, so they wouldn't know what to expect.

Again, this shouldn't be a problem if people drive sensibly. Still, advisory speed 'suggestions' would be no harm though.