Should Farmers road time be restricted?

TheQuietFella · 14-06-2018 7:09pm #1

Driving across country today only to be held up by a multitude of different agricultural vehicles at various stages of my journey! 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.

barneygumble99 · 14-06-2018 7:16pm

TheQuietFella wrote: »

Driving across country today only to be held up by a multitude of different agricultural vehicles at various stages of my journey! 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.

Maybe we could restrict their usage just to when you’re using the road. Maybe if you could post up the the times you’ll be travelling and what roads you’ll be using so I can work around you. Thanks.

mickuhaha · 14-06-2018 7:21pm

A tractor driver in Co. Mayo in 2014 was fined €300 and banned from driving for a year for causing an excessive tailback.

BarryD2 · 14-06-2018 7:24pm

I think all that's needed is that the drivers of tractors and machinery look in their mirrors now & then and when they see a queue of cars behind, pull in at a convenient spot.

Was stuck myself in a long queue behind tractor & trailer for about 10 miles yesterday. There was nothing to do but be patient as the road was a bit twisty and the cars in a position to overtake wouldn't overtake on the straighter bits. I reckon there was a steady stream of expletives though being uttered towards the tractor.

Lady Haywire · 14-06-2018 7:26pm

Oh how quickly the snow was forgotten :rolleyes:

giveitholly · 14-06-2018 7:27pm

TheQuietFella wrote: »

Driving across country today only to be held up by a multitude of different agricultural vehicles at various stages of my journey! 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.

Maybe if you drove between 18:00 & 06:00 your first world problem would be solved,and its not only you that has to use the road

Say my name · 14-06-2018 7:31pm

Organize the weather first please!!!

Farmers work according to weather windows. Not to the time of day.

It'd be lovely to have a 9 to 5 job, weekends off, bank holidays, paid leave.

Oh feck it I picked the wrong job.

At least my food comes from the supermarket. :pac:
Sorted!

Say my name · 14-06-2018 7:33pm

Lady Haywire wrote: »

Oh how quickly the snow was forgotten :rolleyes:

You shouldn't have eaten it all!

Deagol · 14-06-2018 7:33pm

I had to drive to Cork today and there were other people on the road - some of them held me up. Would it be possible to have them banned from using the road when I'm on it?? I'm outraged at the situation and will contact my TD to complain I think! :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

BarryD2 · 14-06-2018 7:33pm

Lady Haywire wrote: »

Oh how quickly the snow was forgotten :rolleyes:

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.

uck51js9zml2yt · 14-06-2018 7:33pm

mickuhaha wrote: »

A tractor driver in Co. Mayo in 2014 was fined €300 and banned from driving for a year for causing an excessive tailback.

This...they should pull in when safe to allow traffic pass.

emaherx · 14-06-2018 7:35pm

BarryD2 wrote: »

I think all that's needed is that the drivers of tractors and machinery look in their mirrors now & then and when they see a queue of cars behind, pull in at a convenient spot.

Was stuck myself in a long queue behind tractor & trailer for about 10 miles yesterday. There was nothing to do but be patient as the road was a bit twisty and the cars in a position to overtake wouldn't overtake on the straighter bits. I reckon there was a steady stream of expletives though being uttered towards the tractor.

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.

emaherx · 14-06-2018 7:37pm

Gerardo Lively Yolk wrote: »

This...they should pull in when safe to allow traffic pass.

Agreed "when safe" but not always possible.

uck51js9zml2yt · 14-06-2018 7:37pm

Say my name wrote: »

Organize the weather first please!!!

Farmers work according to weather windows. Not to the time of day.

It'd be lovely to have a 9 to 5 job, weekends off, bank holidays, paid leave.

Oh feck it I picked the wrong job.

At least my food comes from the supermarket. :pac:
Sorted!

Sure how could they be doing any work when they're always up in Dublin protesting about something and giving away free food.
Get them back down the road ( when no one else is on it) so they can give us more free food....doesn't it let them out for the day, them coming to Dublin.

BarryD2 · 14-06-2018 7:39pm

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.

This was a regional road and there were plenty of spots. In fairness, I more often come across tractors and machinery that will pull in. But there's always some who clearly never look in their mirrors or if they do, they don't care

Rubberchikken · 14-06-2018 7:41pm

If they're taxed insured etc they have every right to use the roads.
The busy season is a short one but they need to use the roads same as anyone else and the sense of entitlement in the op is the nonsense that has sone drivers think only they should use our roads.

Say my name · 14-06-2018 7:41pm

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.

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!!

ted1 · 14-06-2018 7:42pm

What’s the urgency?
Msd be during the week we could mornings and evenings we could stop people using the city roads. They just clog them up.

emaherx · 14-06-2018 7:43pm

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.

Bad drivers in all classes of vehicles. I was drawing bales home at the weekend. Had to drive on only 1/2 mile of road so didn't hold any one up too long, had to turn right into yard, got over taken by six cars in a row even though I had indicators on and there is a continuous white line on road.

Say my name · 14-06-2018 7:45pm

Gerardo Lively Yolk wrote: »

Sure how could they be doing any work when they're always up in Dublin protesting about something and giving away free food.
Get them back down the road ( when no one else is on it) so they can give us more free food....doesn't it let them out for the day, them coming to Dublin.

I knew I left that tractor somewhere.

I hope it's not clamped?

Buford T. Justice XIX · 14-06-2018 7:47pm

BarryD2 wrote: »

This was a regional road and there were plenty of spots. In fairness, I more often come across tractors and machinery that will pull in. But there's always some who clearly never look in their mirrors or if they do, they don't care

I had this argument with a driver last year so I offered to return on the same journey with him in the passenger seat. As we drove I explained why it wasn't possible to pull in in every space he said I should, whether from narrow entrances, tree boughs, stones to prevent vehicles from pulling in and open drains which would mean the tractor wheels and trailer falling in and near overturning.

By the time I left him out, I don't think he was willing to come on a tractor with me again.

But there are some, a small minority, who could do with learning some manners on the road, I'll admit that.

And some tractor drivers also...

emaherx · 14-06-2018 7:49pm

BarryD2 wrote: »

This was a regional road and there were plenty of spots. In fairness, I more often come across tractors and machinery that will pull in. But there's always some who clearly never look in their mirrors or if they do, they don't care

True some A***holes out there, but they are not all driving the tractors. You should try spending a day driving a tractor and you will see plenty of drivers in every class of vehicle who should receive instant bans for their stupidity.

Mooooo · 14-06-2018 7:50pm

If you are behind a tractor and trailer/ implement stay back a bit. Same for a lorry. The amount of people i see up the hole of lorries and tractors is ridiculous. They can't see the person behind if they are that close and the person behind is too close to make an overtake manoeuvre. Common sense please

Odelay · 14-06-2018 7:52pm

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

splinter65 · 14-06-2018 7:52pm

TheQuietFella wrote: »

Driving across country today only to be held up by a multitude of different agricultural vehicles at various stages of my journey! 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.

Did you put milk in your coffee/tea this morning? What did you have for dinner?

emaherx · 14-06-2018 7:53pm

TheQuietFella wrote: »

Driving across country today only to be held up by a multitude of different agricultural vehicles at various stages of my journey! 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.

Maybe you should just allow more time for your travels? And I have no intention of working between 18:00 and 06:00. Maybe you could get work doing nights?

Say my name · 14-06-2018 7:56pm

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?

Kim Jon Un.

Hitman3000 · 14-06-2018 7:59pm

TheQuietFella wrote:

Driving across country today only to be held up by a multitude of different agricultural vehicles at various stages of my journey! 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.

Short answer No, however any slow moving vehicle should pull in when safe to do so and definitely not travel in convoy.

emaherx · 14-06-2018 8:00pm

facehugger99 wrote: »

Kudos to the guy yesterday who decided 5pm would be the ideal time to bring his tractor and trailer full of turf through the center of town at 10km/hr.

Your country salutes your self centered sense of entitlement and marvels at the amount of fcuks you didn’t give about holding up hundreds of people.

Enjoy your turf.

I hope your house burns down.

Yep 5 pm sounds like going home time. He was probably only doing 10kph through town because of the traffic in front of him to be fair.

splinter65 · 14-06-2018 8:06pm

facehugger99 wrote: »

Yep, at 5pm!

How awful for you! Man spends the day in the bog bent double.
Comes to 4.30, throat dry with peat dust, dreaming of the lovely floury new Wexford potatoes his wife is just bringing to the boil.
Time to go home Declan.
But that’s not fair!!!
Facehugger spent the entire afternoon in the office on BetFred placing his bets for the 4th round of the WC! It’s going home time for him too and he simply should not have to wait for Declan!
Ring Liveline.

lazeedaisy · 14-06-2018 8:09pm

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!

May Contain Small Parts · 14-06-2018 8:20pm

lazeedaisy wrote: »

now I'm well used to it and give myself extra time just in case.

This exactly. It's annoying but there's no better option so you just learn to accept it.

We're funny creatures.
Leave the house 3 minutes late? Don't even notice.
Spend 3 minutes going slowly behind a tractor/whatever? AHHHHHH! GET OFF MY ROAD!

emaherx · 14-06-2018 8:22pm

lazeedaisy wrote: »

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.

Wow move to the country and get disturbed 2 nights in a row by the distant hum of one maybe two Diesel engines.

In cities is there not passing trucks, buses, night time road repairs, bin lorries and similar businesses running large Diesel engines all through the night?

14-06-2018 8:31pm

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

I had this argument with a driver last year so I offered to return on the same journey with him in the passenger seat. As we drove I explained why it wasn't possible to pull in in every space he said I should, whether from narrow entrances, tree boughs, stones to prevent vehicles from pulling in and open drains which would mean the tractor wheels and trailer falling in and near overturning.

By the time I left him out, I don't think he was willing to come on a tractor with me again.

But there are some, a small minority, who could do with learning some manners on the road, I'll admit that.

And some tractor drivers also...

Even what looks like a perfectly wide and safe area to pull in may be totally unsuitable if it's on an uphill section and you have big weight behind you. Pull in and it's very hard to build up any speed again thus just holding up more people.

The average car driver has no concept at all of this of course.

emaherx · 14-06-2018 8:31pm

Creative83 wrote: »

It is illegal in many countries to drive tractors on roads within specific times... notable rush hours.

Can you name one?

Tigger · 14-06-2018 8:32pm

mickuhaha wrote: »

A tractor driver in Co. Mayo in 2014 was fined €300 and banned from driving for a year for causing an excessive tailback.

That’s not the full story
1 he drove for ages without pulling in to let people pass even though he had opportunity
2 the judge was md
3 he had previous

_Brian · 14-06-2018 8:40pm

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?

I think that was Michael McIntyre

https://youtu.be/IR6nKy-IafU

Bass Reeves · 14-06-2018 8:46pm

There is another issue with pulling in to let traffic especially in heavy traffic. It is getting back out again. I did it once I pulled in at a convenient spot to let traffic off. Then as I tried to pull out any time a car came around the turn it sped up to get past me before I could pull out. another 10 minutes would have got me to the spot where I intended to pull off the road. Since then I would be slow to pull in off the road in a tractor to let traffic off if it was during rush hour. Now I am not on the road that often with a tractor but I can understand why lads do not pull in to let traffic off.

_Brian · 14-06-2018 8:47pm

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 !

Ginger83 · 14-06-2018 8:55pm

BarryD2 wrote: »

I think all that's needed is that the drivers of tractors and machinery look in their mirrors now & then and when they see a queue of cars behind, pull in at a convenient spot.

Was stuck myself in a long queue behind tractor & trailer for about 10 miles yesterday. There was nothing to do but be patient as the road was a bit twisty and the cars in a position to overtake wouldn't overtake on the straighter bits. I reckon there was a steady stream of expletives though being uttered towards the tractor.

They can't check their mirrors...normally too busy on the phone. Huge value in a machine and can't stick in a 20 quid hands free in.

bertsmom · 14-06-2018 8:56pm

Oh yes we should definitely restrict the pesky farmers on the road.! Isn't it obvious very important people like yourself with very important things to do should of course take precedence over farmer types actually over everyone on the road. You really should settle down Op and write a strongly worded letter to the relevant authority who give a sh1t and right after that pop your polished city brogues up and have a brandy and a cigar for yourself.
All farmers can then tell you to go fcuk yourself when you come whinging in the extreme weather looking for help that was given with an open heart and see then what you say when they cant come rescue Johnny Big Balls coz soz but their time on the road is restricted for your convenience.

Heckler · 14-06-2018 8:58pm

I understand everyone has to go about and make a living. Travelling the link towards the Jack Lynch tunnel both ways over the years tractors and agri machinery are an accident waiting to happen.

WAIT !

I'm not blaming those going about their business.

You can see it half a kilometer away. Brake lights everywhere. Everyone pulling right to overtake which leads to those who don't read the road slamming on and trying to move at a dangerously low speed.

I don't know what the solution is but I do think heavy agri machinery has no place on a road that has a 120kph limit.

emaherx · 14-06-2018 8:59pm

Ginger83 wrote: »

They can't check their mirrors...normally too busy on the phone. Huge value in a machine and can't stick in a 20 quid hands free in.

That's no more true, than any other road users out there. See plenty of idiots driving high end cars with phones in their hands.

emaherx · 14-06-2018 9:04pm

Heckler wrote: »

I understand everyone has to go about and make a living. Travelling the link towards the Jack Lynch tunnel both ways over the years tractors and agri machinery are an accident waiting to happen.

WAIT !

I'm not blaming those going about their business.

You can see it half a kilometer away. Brake lights everywhere. Everyone pulling right to overtake which leads to those who don't read the road slamming on and trying to move at a dangerously low speed.

I don't know what the solution is but I do think heavy agri machinery has no place on a road that has a 120kph limit.

Perhaps you are right on that one, but only high speed tractors (50kph plus) are allowed on motorways. The maximum speed limit for any vehicle towing a trailer on motorway is 80kph but there is nothing to stop a vehicle capable of 80kph driving slower than that either.

traco · 14-06-2018 9:07pm

While we’re at it can everyone keep off the M50 betweeen 8-9am and 5-6pm as I’d like not to be held up going to work and back?!?!?!?!? Thanks!!

Seriously- these lads aren’t out on the road for the laugh. They’re going about their business.

It’s summertime, it’s the country. Leave 20mins earlier and expect machinery to be on the country roads. Drivers caught behind slow moving vehicles that fall under the spell of the red mist are a far greater danger.

emaherx · 14-06-2018 9:12pm

Think the OP pulled a hand-grenade and legged it!

denismc · 14-06-2018 9:13pm

Most tractor drivers are cyclists in disguise! XD

zl1whqvjs75cdy · 14-06-2018 9:16pm

Not a farmer but they can use the roads whenever they like far as im concerned. Without them we wouldnt eat and in situations like the snow earlier in the year we'd be even more ****ed than we were. Be a bit ungrateful to ban them from the roads during certain times after asking them to clear them of snow less than 6 months ago.

Ginger83 · 14-06-2018 9:16pm

emaherx wrote: »

That's no more true, than any other road users out there. See plenty of idiots driving high end cars with phones in their hands.

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?

Heckler · 14-06-2018 9:18pm

traco wrote: »

While we’re at it can everyone keep off the M50 betweeen 8-9am and 5-6pm as I’d like not to be held up going to work and back?!?!?!?!? Thanks!!

Seriously- these lads aren’t out on the road for the laugh. They’re going about their business.

It’s summertime, it’s the country. Leave 20mins earlier and expect machinery to be on the country roads. Drivers caught behind slow moving vehicles that fall under the spell of the red mist are a far greater danger.

Have to disagree. I understand that people are trying to make a living but its dangerous, And its not country roads. This is a tractor hauling hay at 20mph going from Midelton to Cork city on a road thats designed for 100mph traffic. Again i'm not blaming the worker doing what he has to do but to say its not dangerous is ridiculous.

traco · 14-06-2018 9:23pm

Heckler wrote: »

Have to disagree. I understand that people are trying to make a living but its dangerous, And its not country roads. This is a tractor hauling hay at 20mph going from Midelton to Cork city on a road thats designed for 100mph traffic. Again i'm not blaming the worker doing what he has to do but to say its not dangerous is ridiculous.

Must check out that 100mph road???

Should Farmers road time be restricted?

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