Tractors driving with front forks down

pgj2015

Is this legal? I see lads driving on the roads sometimes with their front forks down. I always think if they lost control or if a car driver, cyclist, motor cyclist did and there was a collision that the result would be terrible.

emaherx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058374124/tractors-driving-with-front-forks-down

You probably won't find a law that specifically covers this, but a fork could be considered a dangerous projection.

The UK's health and safety authority says loaders should be down on the road to lower tractors centre of gravity to improve stability. Forks should be removed, folded back or covered.

Our RSA 'recommends' up and pointed down.

Personally I drive with loader down if I don't have a fork and up pointed down if I do. But some very large forks (which I don't have) like those used pushing up pit silage would be very heavy and could make a loader unstable carried at height.

A collision with a pedestrian, cyclist or motorcycle and a tractor is not likely to go well, with or without a loader.

dmakc

I always drive with them up myself but it is legal. Junctions are the main worry but I imagine everyone lifts at least for that scenario

funkey_monkey

There won't be a specific law against it, but it will be more likely covered under a general law of careless driving or dangerous driving.

amacca

If they have rollers on them ...one would be wise not to drive with them pointed down...especially if they are any way loose...

I knew a lad that was driving slung and a roller dropped off, bounced on the road and bounced right back up into the engine....not good.

Say my name

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122715320#Comment_122715320

Can't really come to that either. As posted you can't drive with those big loaders up in the air as you are more likely topple over sideways or frontwards then. It's just from a safety to car users you have to lift them up when coming out of junctions or gateways.

There's enough of laws coming out from people who never drove a tractor or loader without putting it in their heads.

I travel with the loader down on most trips as the tractor is more stable and it's not wearing the rams on the loader as much. Even forklifts some people have them road registered. Imagine driving one with the forks up. You'd be turned over the first bend. Then you've front mowers, potato equipment, etc it goes on what's mounted in front of a tractor.

selectamatic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122715320#Comment_122715320

Considering the painted wall a few feet behind that car surely one would be bang on the money in assuming that the car drove past a slightly wider area on the road almost oblivious to the fact that they were meeting a big yellow loader that's pretty hard not see.

Now I could well be completely wrong but I've posted before about how those roads with no road markings that are still just about wide enough for two vehicles to pass are so dangerous because a large cohort of car drivers belt along them keeping well out from the ditch or drain no matter what they're meeting.

The legal widths are covered here. There's very little official guidance on spikes or forks.

https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/when-if-ever-is-an-escort-needed-for-wide-agri-machines/