We’re getting into silage season in Tipperary which will see an increase in traffic on many rural roads.
Gardaí are urging motorists to expect the unexpected with large agricultural machinery using narrow byroads.
However Superintendent Eddie Golden says there is also an onus on those driving tractors to be conscious of a build-up of traffic behind them.
“A lot of large agricultural vehicles moving on the roads so every member of the public then needs to be aware that they’re coming in an out of junctions, they’re going to be turning right into fields. You’re going to have to give them that extra piece of room – stay back enough that so that they can pick you up in their mirror. The (tractor) mirrors should be clean as well and everybody should be watching them.
“The tractor driver or machinery driver should be aware then that there’s a build up of traffic behind them at times and make sure at the first opportunity they pull in and leave off the traffic.”
Teenagers driving tractors during silage season in Tipperary need to remember that they may lack experience when it comes to operating large machinery on the roads.
A 16 year old can legally drive a tractor unaccompanied on public roads.
Superintendent Golden says even though they may have been operating machinery on the farm for some time it’s a different matter when there are other vehicles around.
“You know a 16 year old will have great experience driving off the road but on the road then – that experience is something that takes time and I think that’s what we’re looking for particularly with the agricultural community to make sure that whoever is driving those vehicles has the necessary experience to do that.”
