Advertisement
Please note that it is not permitted to have referral links posted in your signature. Keep these links contained in the appropriate forum. Thank you.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2055940817/signature-rules
Help Keep Boards Alive. Support us by going ad free today. See here: https://subscriptions.boards.ie/.
https://www.boards.ie/group/1878-subscribers-forum

Private Group for paid up members of Boards.ie. Join the club.
Hi all, please see this major site announcement: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058427594/boards-ie-2026

M9 crash - Tractor involved

  • 16-03-2012 06:08PM
    #1
    AugustusMinimus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,593 ✭✭✭


    Being reported so far as a serious crash. Involved a car and a tractor towing a trailer.

    If the tractor driver is still alive, I hope they throw the book at him. Will it take a death to actually start to get Gardai enforcing rules banning tractors, cyclists and pedestrians from using motorways ? I'm **** sick of seeing all 3 on motorways without the Gardai doing a thing.

    http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0316/breaking56.html


«13456

Comments

  • #2
    Plug
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,248 ✭✭✭Plug


    When I was driving Kilkenny to Waterford back late last year for a few months I kept seeing tractors on that stretch and one day I seen one pulled in by the gaurds.


  • #3
    AugustusMinimus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,593 ✭✭✭AugustusMinimus


    Plug wrote: »
    When I was driving Kilkenny to Waterford back late last year for a few months I kept seeing tractors on that stretch and one day I seen one pulled in by the gaurds.

    Prob breathalyzed the driver and sent himon his way :rolleyes:


  • #4
    Mycroft H
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,306 ✭✭✭Mycroft H


    AugustusMinimus wrote: »
    Being reported so far as a serious crash. Involved a car and a tractor towing a trailer.

    If the tractor driver is still alive, I hope they throw the book at him. Will it take a death to actually start to get Gardai enforcing rules banning tractors, cyclists and pedestrians from using motorways ? I'm **** sick of seeing all 3 on motorways without the Gardai doing a thing.

    http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0316/breaking56.html

    As the current law stands, if the tractor can do 50km/h its allowed on the motorway whether its doing the 50km/h or not. Its a ridiculous situation at the minute.

    Hope no one is badly injured or worse :(


  • #5
    dudara
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 33,518 ✭✭✭✭dudara


    It's kind of hard to drive into a tractor on a motorway (they are pretty visible after all), so I'd like to know more details about what happened here.

    But yes, the tractor thing needs to be tackled. I thought there was some recent change limiting tractors to 40 km/h, which overwrites the 50 km/h motorway limit.


  • #6
    padd b1975
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,900 ✭✭✭✭padd b1975


    It's been reported that there was one person was killed.


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    ottostreet
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,986 ✭✭✭ottostreet


    I've also heard that a man died in the crash.


  • #8
    Mycroft H
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,306 ✭✭✭Mycroft H


    dudara wrote: »
    It's kind of hard to drive into a tractor on a motorway (they are pretty visible after all), so I'd like to know more details about what happened here.

    But yes, the tractor thing needs to be tackled. I thought there was some recent change limiting tractors to 40 km/h, which overwrites the 50 km/h motorway limit.

    Someone wasn't paying attention and rear ended the tractor, they're really isn't much else that could happen.


  • #9
    Gary ITR
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,800 ✭✭✭✭Gary ITR


    I only drove that stretch a couple of hours before


  • #10
    S28382
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,326 ✭✭✭S28382


    padd b1975 wrote: »
    It's been reported that there was one person was killed.


    Yeah 1 person killed on the section of motorway between knocktopher and danesfort it is closed off, I travel that motorway everyday there is always tractors on it driving way too slow, very sad to hear some1 has died,


  • #11
    Figerty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,284 ✭✭✭Figerty


    It's very easy to hit a tractor on the motor way.. Tractor is doing say 40 km/hr and you are legally doing 120 km/h. You will come up very fast on its rear and it can be difficult to slow downq quickly or move out in traffic.

    Same thing applies with slow drivers on the motorway. If your concentration slips then you are up on their rear very fast.
    dudara wrote: »
    It's kind of hard to drive into a tractor on a motorway (they are pretty visible after all), so I'd like to know more details about what happened here.

    But yes, the tractor thing needs to be tackled. I thought there was some recent change limiting tractors to 40 km/h, which overwrites the 50 km/h motorway limit.


  • Advertisement
  • #12
    fricatus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,919 ✭✭✭fricatus


    BX 19 wrote: »
    Someone wasn't paying attention and rear ended the tractor, they're really isn't much else that could happen.

    Not necessarily. That section of motorway has a few curves, so even if you were doing the legal maximum of 120 and the tractor was doing the legal minimum of 50 then you could suddenly find yourself closing fast on the tractor. Then anything can happen - you move out but someone's in your blind spot for example...

    RIP to the poor bugger involved. I drive that stretch of motorway every day, though I just happen to be off work today, and it's shocking the sh1t that I see. Unfortunately today's tragedy is no surprise to me :mad:

    I had a near miss myself a while back - see this thread.


  • #13
    Mycroft H
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,306 ✭✭✭Mycroft H


    fricatus wrote: »
    Not necessarily. That section of motorway has a few curves, so even if you were doing the legal maximum of 120 and the tractor was doing the legal minimum of 50 then you could suddenly find yourself closing fast on the tractor. Then anything can happen - you move out but someone's in your blind spot for example...

    RIP to the poor bugger involved. I drive that stretch of motorway every day, though I just happen to be off work today, and it's shocking the sh1t that I see. Unfortunately today's tragedy is no surprise to me :mad:

    I had a near miss myself a while back - see this thread.


    Is there blind curves where you could be up on a tractor without time to break? Still comes under not paying attention.


    Either way its a sad day for the families involved :(


  • #14
    fricatus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,919 ✭✭✭fricatus


    BX 19 wrote: »
    Is there blind curves where you could be up on a tractor without time to break? Still comes under not paying attention.

    No there aren't - it's a motorway after all, but there are some nice long curved sections. Some of them remind me of the A1 in the North.

    And no of course you're not going to come suddenly upon a tractor like that, but anyone who drives daily on a motorway will know what it's like to come up behind someone who's going too slow, or else a big tailback. You're tootling along at 120, minding your own business, overtaking, being overtaken, and then all of a sudden you have to brake and lash on the hazards, or else disengage the cruise control because some tool is doing 80 kph and there are already cars behind you in the overtaking lane.

    We don't know the particulars of this accent, so I think it's a bit unfair to simply call it as "not paying attention". Motorway driving is so monotonous that there has to be a big margin for safety. This is why you're not allowed to stop, and why pedestrians and cyclists aren't allowed. They only work when everyone is bombing along together. One idiot going significantly slower or significantly faster than 100-130 km/h disrupts this balance and cause a dangerous situation.


  • #15
    ottostreet
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,986 ✭✭✭ottostreet


    There are tractors regularly on the M9, driving halfway in the hard shoulder, half blocking the driving lane, I can't see how someone can be so thick as to drive one on a motorway.


  • #16
    rdjzb
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2 ✭rdjzb


    Its hard to not spot a tractor/trailer in the middle of the day ... R.I.P to the driver of the car


  • #17
    Yawns
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 4,254 ✭✭✭Yawns


    dudara wrote: »
    It's kind of hard to drive into a tractor on a motorway (they are pretty visible after all), so I'd like to know more details about what happened here.


    I was on the M9 the other night and there was a tractor towing a trailer with 0 lights on the back. Tractors shouldn't be on the motorway at all full stop. Too dangerous because of the difference in speeds that they go compared to cars. I firmly believe a minimum limit should be placed on motorways.

    I don't mind cars driving at 90 km/h on motorways as you can overtake. Even if someone is currently overtaking you, you can slow down for a few seconds and then move out when safe, overtake the slower driver and be on your way. Of course you will get the numpties driving in the "fast lane".


  • #18
    rdjzb
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2 ✭rdjzb


    AugustusMinimus wrote: »

    If the tractor driver is still alive, I hope they throw the book at him. Will it take a death to actually start to get Gardai enforcing rules banning tractors, cyclists and pedestrians from using motorways ? I'm **** sick of seeing all 3 on motorways without the Gardai doing a thing.


    Sorry but that accident was not the fault of the trailer driving so there should be no "throw(ing) the book at him". If you were rear ended would you expect to be blamed?

    and tractors are LEGALLY allowed on the motorway!!


  • #19
    staker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,677 ✭✭✭staker


    If it's a tractor capable of doing more than 50kmh there's only gonna be one loser in an accident with a car.

    Unfortunately someone has:mad:


  • #20
    sean1141
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,088 ✭✭✭sean1141


    Yawns wrote: »
    I was on the M9 the other night and there was a tractor towing a trailer with 0 lights on the back. Tractors shouldn't be on the motorway at all full stop. Too dangerous because of the difference in speeds that they go compared to cars. I firmly believe a minimum limit should be placed on motorways.

    I don't mind cars driving at 90 km/h on motorways as you can overtake. Even if someone is currently overtaking you, you can slow down for a few seconds and then move out when safe, overtake the slower driver and be on your way. Of course you will get the numpties driving in the "fast lane".

    is 50k not the mininuim limit??


  • #21
    slimjimmc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,783 ✭✭✭slimjimmc


    sean1141 wrote: »
    is 50k not the mininuim limit??

    No. It is the minimum top speed a vehicle must be capable of doing safely but there's no requirement to keep driving above 50km/h.


  • Advertisement
  • #22
    Rovi
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,569 ✭✭✭Rovi


    sean1141 wrote: »
    is 50k not the mininuim limit??
    Nope, 50km/h is the minimum speed of which a vehicle must be capable.
    There's no minimum limit.


  • #23
    ottostreet
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,986 ✭✭✭ottostreet


    m2.gif

    I don't think anyone can argue with a tractor being a 'slow vehicle'.


  • #24
    staker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,677 ✭✭✭staker


    Heard once the 50kmh was brought in for builders during the boom. Cheaper to buy a tractor-trailer outright and run their own transportation to move landfill etc. than hire outside hauliers to do the job by lorry.

    Could be pure codswallop...


  • #25
    0066ad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 314 ✭✭0066ad


    Was there not a new rule put in place for tractors,
    not to go faster than 40 km/h. If that is the case
    the tractor should not have been on the motorway

    Trying to find a link about this and this is the best
    i could find http://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Your-Vehicle/About-your-Vehicle/What-Category-is-my-vehicle/Tractors-/


    I fcking hate tractors there is millions of them where
    i live. I was once stuck behind one from Baltinglass all
    the way to hollywood in wicklow


  • #26
    Rovi
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,569 ✭✭✭Rovi


    0066ad wrote: »
    Was there not a new rule put in place for tractors,
    not to no faster than 40 km/h. If that is the case
    the tractor should not have been on the motorway

    Trying to find a link about this and this is the best
    i could find http://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Your-Vehicle/About-your-Vehicle/What-Category-is-my-vehicle/Tractors-/

    There was talk of making tractors of Category 5 in the above link (Wheeled tractors with a maximum design speed of more than 40 km/h) liable for commercial rates of tax, VRT, insurance, testing, and use of white diesel.
    I don't know if anything ever came of it or if it's still being considered.


  • #27
    Gary ITR
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,800 ✭✭✭✭Gary ITR


    staker wrote: »
    Heard once the 50kmh was brought in for builders during the boom. Cheaper to buy a tractor-trailer outright and run their own transportation to move landfill etc. than hire outside hauliers to do the job by lorry.

    Could be pure codswallop...

    It is, those signs were on the M50 when it first opened before boom time


  • #28
    Kxiii
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 864 ✭✭✭Kxiii


    Just came down that stretch about twenty minutes ago and the Guards still have it closed. As you re entering the motorway at Knocktopher you can see a lot of blue lights still flashing about half a mile up the road.


  • #29
    john reilly
    Closed Accounts Posts: 409 ✭✭john reilly


    considering hgv's arent allowed to use the outside lane. this in theory means that a lorry would have to sit behind a tractor doing 35kmh. from dundalk to cork. get them to f..k off the motorway


  • #30
    john reilly
    Closed Accounts Posts: 409 ✭✭john reilly


    the signs on the motorway used to be 50mph then when they changed to kmh they changed that part but didnt put 80kmh for some reason


  • Advertisement
  • #31
    dr.fuzzenstein
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 16,575 ✭✭✭✭dr.fuzzenstein


    It's a complete farce that these things are allowed on the motorway at all.
    If a tractor was to end up on the Autobahn in Germany, every radio station would broadcast announcements, people would be diverted to other routes, police would call out and, if nothing else happens, people would talk about it for weeks.
    It's lazy and sloppy law making without a thought put into it, other than to go for another tea break.
    The tractor drivers are only to happy to exploit the situation and I'm sure the tractor drivers defense will be "I Am Entitled!".
    Yes, the driver of the car mustn't have been paying attention, but a tractor on a motorway would just be unthinkable anywhere else.


Advertisement
Advertisement