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OTHERS - AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY / ANIMALS

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Print this page OTHERS - AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY / ANIMALS

Tractors
All tractors used in a public place must be fitted with safety frames and are subject to the normal laws governing road traffic including driver licensing, insurance, motor tax, vehicle lighting etc. The fitting of cladding to the frame i.e. a safety cab, is a matter of choice. The purpose of the frame is to protect the driver from being crushed underneath should the tractor overturn. The frame must comply with approved standards.

When transporting loose material such as silage, slurry, sand, gravel, etc. special care must be taken to ensure that material does not spill onto a public road - such spillages can cause accidents. Loads of lime or other dusty materials or offal or other offensive material must be fully covered with a tarpaulin.

Farmers using agricultural tractors and trailers to gricultural produce must not adopt the following loading practices:
• Use of exceptionally high frames on trailers - to facilitate loading of produce to a height which could endanger the stability, steering and braking of an agricultural tractor/trailer combination;
• Exceeding the maximum legally permissible vehicle weight or the design gross vehicle weight (GVW).

An explanatory Leaflet (No. 1) on the legal maximum vehicle weights and dimensions is available, free of charge, from the Department of the Environment, Vehicle Control Section, O'Connell Bridge House, Dublin 2. The design CVW weight is the maximum weight at which the braking, steering etc. is designed to safely operate and can be determined from the manufacturer's specification for the tractor or trailer (available from dealers/distributors).

ON THE ROAD
When a tractor is being used in a public place, however infrequently, it is subject to the normal laws governing road traffic.
It is important to remember that most tractors are, of their nature, slow- moving vehicles. It is, therefore, important that the general rule to keep left be strictly observed so as not to hold up faster traffic. Remember that the law requires that your driving mirror provides an adequate view of the road to the rear. If you are drawing a load which obscures this view, you must carry a person on the trailer who can advise you of traffic coming from behind. Do not carry a passenger unless the tractor is equipped to carry one.

HORSE DRAWN VEHICLES
The normal driving rules, including the general rule to keep left apply. The hand signals to be given by the driver are the same as those given by a cyclist. A horse drawn vehicle must be equipped with two red rear reflectors and at night, must also carry on the right hand side of the vehicle, a lamp showing a white light to the front and a red light to the rear.
The rules relating to drinking and drugs referred to earlier in the booklet also apply to drivers of horse drawn vehicles.

RIDING OR LEADING HORSES
A person riding or leading a horse must keep to the left hand edge of the roadway.
Motorists should exercise special care when approaching riding schools or places where horses are likely to appear.

DRIVING ANIMALS ON THE ROAD
A person in charge of animals on a roadway must take reasonable steps to ensure that the animals do not obstruct the passage of other traffic or pedestrians.
A person in charge of animals on a road at night must carry a lamp showing a white light to the front and a red light to the rear. A reflective armband should also be worn.

Motor Cyclists | Pedestrians | Pedal Cyclists | Fire and Emergency | agricultural machinery / animals