Farm tractors

anotherbaldrick

We live in an urban area on an "A" road , quite a bit of traffic especially at school hours. We also have a lot of farm machinery going back and forth and what worries me is the number of tractors , some towing trailers but with the front end loaders. These are a row of 12 or more 3ft pointed spikes which are being carried pointing forward about 18" off the ground . Is this legal ?
Considering they made manufacturers take emblems off the front of cars so as not to cause injury I dread to think what these things would do in an accident . To a small hatchback they would skewer the rear seat passengers . Is it reasonable to complain to the Police ?


http://www.cornishmutual.co.uk/blog/posts/2013/november/advice-on-travelling-with-a-tractor-mounted-fore-end-loader/

AdrianC

anotherbaldrick wrote: »

Is this legal ?

The link you posted answered your question.

Mark_Mark

AdrianC wrote: »

The link you posted answered your question.

This bit


When travelling on the public highway, the forks (or other front-mounted handling attachment) should be:

• Removed and carried elsewhere (e.g. on a trailer) or
• Folded back and secured or
• Covered/protected by an appropriate guard.

If this advice is not followed, the attachment may be regarded as a dangerous projection, other road users may be deemed to be at risk, and the driver prosecuted for dangerous driving.

olias

Its just laziness on the part of the driver - they do it round my way all the time, as well as with forklift prongs and bale spikes. AFAIK they can just raise the front hydrolically from iside the cab, so don't know why they don't.

Worse thing is the summer, when they are driven by kids on their summer breaks, who still think they are in their souped up Corsas!

Olias

Gloomendoom

olias wrote: »

Its just laziness on the part of the driver - they do it round my way all the time, as well as with forklift prongs and bale spikes. AFAIK they can just raise the front hydrolically from iside the cab, so don't know why they don't.

Because it can make the whole outfit unstable.

olias

Can't see why driving along like that would make it unstable?

Olias

Herzlos

It raises the centre of gravity significantly.

It also impacts visibility and may cause problems for taller obstacles/vehicles (it can catch on overhead cables/branches or passing trucks).

If they are driving suitably carefully it's probably fine, if they are being dangerous with them it's illegal. If you feel they are causing any kind of risk then I'd report it.

Iceweasel

The problem in my neck of the woods is the tractors greatly exceed the speed limit of 20mph for a T1 (traditional style) tractor

Some of the 'big' T2 type have a speed limit of 40mph but they usually run at nearer 55mph on a 60mph limit road so getting past the beggars needs a much longer clear stretch than should be the case.

New rules for all tractors are coming next year I think so perhaps the Polizei might just start to take notice of them a bit more for all sorts of rule-breaking.

High time they needed MOTs and proper brakes to at least truck standard as these huge tractors with 2 trailers can weigh much more than a big truck.

OK rant over - back to normal.

Mark_Mark

Iceweasel wrote: »

The problem in my neck of the woods is the tractors greatly exceed the speed limit of 20mph for a T1 (traditional style) tractor

Some of the 'big' T2 type have a speed limit of 40mph but they usually run at nearer 55mph on a 60mph limit road so getting past the beggars needs a much longer clear stretch than should be the case.

New rules for all tractors are coming next year I think so perhaps the Polizei might just start to take notice of them a bit more for all sorts of rule-breaking.

High time they needed MOTs and proper brakes to at least truck standard as these huge tractors with 2 trailers can weigh much more than a big truck.

OK rant over - back to normal.

Really I thought the maximum weight allowed was 24,390kg but going up to 31,000kg. Trucks can weigh up to 44,000kg.

goonarmy

Mark_Mark wrote: »

Really I thought the maximum weight allowed was 24,390kg but going up to 31,000kg. Trucks can weigh up to 44,000kg.

Assuming farmer Joe knows his vehicles and loads weight and complys with all relevent rules and regs:rotfl:

Iceweasel

Mark_Mark wrote: »

Really I thought the maximum weight allowed was 24,390kg but going up to 31,000kg. Trucks can weigh up to 44,000kg.

Hmm - that's running legal - but if they reckon they can get a 2nd layer of potato boxes on - they will.

So a farm trailer meant to carry 8 boxes at 1.25 tonnes each get a second lot stacked on top - so 16 X 1.25 = 20 tonnes.

And let's have a 2nd trailer as well - so that's 40 tonnes of tatties - plus the weight of the tractor and trailers.

All rolling along at 50 mph and no requirement for any MOT at all.

But the latest thing up here is a HGV failure trailer, bought for peanuts, with a single-axle bogie under the 5th wheel coupling - towed by a T1 tractor.

Of course it's on red diesel as well.

Formidable is not the word.