The Irish Road Haulage Association has launched a campaign calling for tractors and slow-moving agricultural vehicles to be banned from motorways, citing serious safety risks and traffic disruption.
Under current regulations, agricultural vehicles including tractors are permitted on motorways provided they can maintain a minimum speed of 50 km/h. When towing trailers, both the tractor and trailer must be capable of traveling at this speed by design.
However, IRHA President Ger Hyland argues that tractors frequently operate below the required speed limit in practice, particularly when climbing inclines or carrying heavy loads.
Ireland Stands Alone in EU
Hyland claims Ireland is “currently the only country in the EU that allows tractors on motorways,” positioning the ban as a necessary safety measure.
“If we are serious about road safety, and preventing further road deaths, tractors should be removed from our motorways,” he stated during the campaign launch.
The IRHA president painted a stark picture of potential dangers, describing scenarios where families driving at 120 km/h in heavy fog could encounter slow-moving tractors with little time to react.
“This is presenting a clear and present danger to other road users and is a serious tragedy waiting to happen,” Hyland warned.
Traffic Disruption and Dangerous Maneuvers
Beyond safety concerns, the association highlights operational problems caused by agricultural vehicles on motorways. IRHA members report their heavy goods vehicles regularly become stuck behind tractors and trailers, leading to traffic congestion and forcing dangerous overtaking maneuvers.
The slow-moving agricultural vehicles create bottlenecks on roads designed for fast-moving traffic, disrupting the flow of commercial and passenger vehicles.
Call for Government Action
The IRHA has urged the government to collaborate with the Road Safety Authority and the Irish Farmers Association to address the issue. The organization wants tractors restricted to local and regional roads that are more suitable for their operating speeds and capabilities.
“Take action and ensure that tractors stick to local and regional roads and not use motorways that are designed for fast moving traffic,” the association demanded.
The campaign represents a direct challenge to current transport policy and could potentially affect farming operations that rely on motorway access for efficiency and convenience.
Both the Road Safety Authority and Irish Farmers Association have been approached for comment on the proposed ban.
The debate highlights the tension between different road users’ needs and raises questions about how Ireland’s transport infrastructure should accommodate various vehicle types while maintaining safety standards.