tractors

[sunny-dave]

Following on from a comment by mike25 ...

... I see an increasing number of tractors/trailers/machinery on public roads - not just 'nipping across the lane' from one field to another, but travelling for miles on main country roads between farms.

Even if the tractor has proper licence plates (many don't), I can pretty much guarantee that the trailer/harvester/whatever will have no plates, no lights, nothing.

You can add to that the sheer arrogance and insensitivity of the drivers, who have absolutely no regard to road rules and/or the inconvenience they are causing to the huge tail-back of vehicles behind them.

Are they above the law in some strange way? Do any of them ever get prosecuted?

[tamborine]

no

http://www.direct.gov...tionClasses/DG_069649

[ChuckFickens]

http://www.psni.police.uk/tractors.pdf

[sunny-dave]

Sooo - there are clearly laws, which are clearly being broken on a daily basis, but no-one ever gets prosecuted ...

... how do I register my motorbike as an agricultural vehicle and gain full exemption from any police action?

[ChuckFickens]

Somebody in the town I grew up in used to put the number plates from a random tractor onto his car occasionally (I do not condone this behaver), apparently a poor farmer in Ipswich somewhere often had to prove it wasn't his tractor doing over 100mph on various motorways.

[tamborine]

Carry a cow on your bike

http://www.google.co....=0CFwQ9QEwAA&dur=1127

[The Builder]

It's the time of year, Dave. They're contractors. They're the ones with the 200hp tractors and long trailers. Because of the bad weather this year, they are going flat out to get it all done. Young guys mostly. On the whole, they're very skilled drivers......... but they do cane it :o(

[Mike25]

Also the mess they leave behind them on the public road, cow crap everywhere. If my dog does a poo I get fined, but they leave cow poo all over the road, not to mention the smell.

[Batman7070]

The police will probably only come to the scene if:

1. There has been a serius accident involving said farm vehicle and only then if someone has been injured.

2. I dont think they would bother otherwise, after all some of these vehicles are much larger than a police car.

3. Some drivers of said farm vehicles are much larger and thicker than most policemen.

[ChuckFickens]

"Also the mess they leave behind them on the public road, cow crap everywhere"
They are meant to clean that up.

"not to mention the smell."
LOL, I always laugh when people live in the country and then complain about countryside smell.

[tamborine]

ruminant manure is digested grass that is harmless.

[NOX]

No because hopefully the police have better things to do than prosecute people who are trying to work.

[The Builder]

Lol, Chuck. I've had this occasionally with barn conversions. I don't think people quite realise that when they move near a farm, they're actually living next to an industrial estate!

[sunny-dave]

I would have thought that it is possible to work hard and efficiently whilst observing the law and showing due consideration to other road users ...

[sunny-dave]

... and I agree entirely with chuck and TB - moving to the countryside and then moaning about countryside noise & smells is daft

[Graham-W]

I have no problem with farmers moving equipment from field to field. I enjoy and, indeed, need to eat. Farmers are the people who produce my food so I am pleased to see them working on my behalf. It's lucky that people sat at computers do not cause hold-ups as I could see a lot of old duffers being berated for being so slow.

[sunny-dave]

All true Graham - but it's the trend for huge tractors and unlit/unmarked trailers travelling big distances on main(ish) roads that worries me ...

[ChuckFickens]

Yep :)

People often seem to think living in the country is nothing but sheep frolicking in fields and corn gently swaying in the wind and then wonder why there are funny smells and days when you can't open your windows unless you want everything in the house covered in wheat chaff.

I love living in the country and growing up on farms :)

[tamborine]

Most farm workers are east europeans on seasonal cheap labour. Prosecutions wouldn't find them as they return to Yugoslavia, with heavy pockets :)

[tamborine]

Count yourself lucky behind a tractor or combine; as it could be a shetland pony hauling the load.

[ChuckFickens]

The police do have a task force to deal with it, SD...
http://www.derryjourn...pe_595/2159015698.jpg