Tractors on motorways

darkman2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEcA3RPEiyM

I don't know what these boggers do be thinking. What do they not get about "tractors not allowed"?

the_syco

Is there a separate seat for the passenger? Are they both wearing seatbelts, and if not, what is the legality of driving with no seatbelt on a motorway in a tractor?

dcr22B

Quicker way of fuel smuggling rather than sticking to the back roads? :rolleyes:


Joke: Yes, I know the trailer is empty. I'd sit behind him, ask my passenger to record and then have him reported!

munchkin_utd

tractors ARE allowed, as long as they are quick.

What is prohibited are vehicles which have a design speed of <50kmh.

That tractor is doing 65 if you look at the view of the speedo at 58 seconds in.
So perfectly legal.

L1011

...assuming he's using road diesel, of course.

Aidan1

More to the point, Fendt developed the 936 with a 65km/h box so it could be used on DCs in Germany (other manufacturers are following suit now).

Assuming that this gentleman is running on commercial derv, he isn't breaking the law. There is no maximum speed for Ag vehicles in Irish law (20mph in the UK), and no explicit prohibition on tractors using the Motorways (so long as they can exceed 50kmh). There are plans in train to regulate ag machinery on roads far more closely - these are obviously on hold pending the formation of a new Govt.

This particular case is a good example of how archaic our laws are in this regard. That tractor is a 360hp (nearly 1500nm of torque!) monster, with a sticker price in excess of €150k. Full electronic CVT transmission, TMS, and it weighs nearly 11 tonnes unladen - typically it would be used for hauling large tillage equipment, so 6-8 meter pieces of kit that fold down to a nominal 3m and weigh another 10 tonnes. It is a thing of beauty.

And yet a snot nosed 17 year old can pilot one of those on a public road with no test whatsoever. We're using laws formulated for tractors in the 1960s, when 15mph was considered fast, to regulate a sector that has changed out of all recognition. Leaving aside the power of the farming community to avoid restrictions, the fact that many building contractors use ag tractors (running on green diesel) on dumpers has also been a major driver.

sonyair

Here is a case that went through the court


A COUNTY Limerick tractor driver has escaped conviction at Limerick District Court for driving too slow on a motorway after a judge said he had “seen many things before the court”, but that this was the first case of its kind he had seen. Judge O’Donnell’s comments came after an Ahane man was charged with the offence of driving too slowly on the motorway near Ballysimon.

Evidence was heard that he drove his tractor on the motorway last July as the only alternative route home available was “through town” and he thought it safer to be on the motorway.
Judge O’Donnell said he had “never seen anything like it before the court,” but advised that the farm machinery driver take an alternative route from one end of the city to the next.
The matter was struck out.

Melodeon

The Fendt 900 series are at the very top end of tractor technology.

Besides the equipment already listed above, they're fitted with both ABS and Fendt's version of ESP, Fendt Stability Control.
They're also fitted with a proper passenger seat, and both seats have seatbelts.

Here's the brochure if anyone's interested:
http://www.fendt.co.uk/pdf/939Vario_english_Internet.pdf (3.09MB)




Has the Green/Commercial diesel thing ever been actually enacted in law, does anyone know?
As far as I know, it's still perfectly legal to run a tractor (for any purpose) on green diesel.
There's been a lot of talk about changing this, but I haven't heard of anything actually happening.

L1011

Melodeon wrote: »

Has the Green/Commercial diesel thing ever been actually enacted in law, does anyone know?
As far as I know, it's still perfectly legal to run a tractor (for any purpose) on green diesel.
There's been a lot of talk about changing this, but I haven't heard of anything actually happening.

There's nothing to change - the regs for ag diesel prohibit its use on vehicles with a 50km/h gearbox.

the_syco

Aidan1 wrote: »

And yet a snot nosed 17 year old can pilot one of those on a public road with no test whatsoever.

Thought the law had changed so that they could only do so on private land?

L1011

the_syco wrote: »

Thought the law had changed so that they could only do so on private land?

Category W still has no requirement to carry L plates or be accompanied.

KevR

munchkin_utd wrote: »

tractors ARE allowed, as long as they are quick.

What is prohibited are vehicles which have a design speed of <50kmh.

That tractor is doing 65 if you look at the view of the speedo at 58 seconds in.
So perfectly legal.

But not at all sensible (in my opinion of course).

Melodeon

Provided they compy with the various laws regarding roadworthiness of the vehicle/trailer/attachments and are using the correct fuel, I don't see what the terrible big deal is.
ANY vehicle may legally operate on the motorway at speeds much lower than other 'normal' traffic; whether they're doing so in a 'Dangerous' or 'Careless' manner is up to the Gardai and the Courts to decide.

The 'W' licence category certainly needs revamping.
Perhaps a graduated 'W' category, something like the way the 'C' category is done for different gross weights, along with the additional 'E+' category for trailers and attached equipment?

sonyair

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx--ngrF6RQ

Tech3

I think a law should be brought in to make it illegal for tractors to drive on motorways. At least then an offence would be seen as crystal clear and fine and points to those who decide to break the law.

the_syco

MYOB wrote: »

Category W still has no requirement to carry L plates or be accompanied.

I thought you were taking the piss, but you are right. And as said, they now go pretty damn fast, so if you were to meet someone who has never really driven on a public road, let alone a motorway, in a tractor, christ. It's a tragedy waiting to happen.

Figerty

Yah and what about the Chelsea tractors????

Should the be banned in Cities for not being fit for purpose???

runway16

Bit of a difference Figerty - the average traffic speed in a city isnt 120kmh.

Motorways are built for fast moving traffic - not agricultural vehicles. And its not as if you have to use the motorway - each one has an alternative route. Its just sheer laziness and stupidity that tractors use motorways.