Tractor ban on Motorway

[No ideas for a name]

More intended as a light hearted distraction from the usual problems discussed on NP&E, I came across this on RTE (Ireland)...

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2025/0526/1514987-...

article said:

The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has called for a ban on tractors and "slow moving vehicles" from using the country's motorway network due to safety concerns.

According to the Road Safety Authority (RSA), a tractor can be driven on a motorway if it can travel at or maintain a speed of at least 50km/h.

to which

Irish Road Haulage Association President said:

A family in a car driving in heavy fog on the motorway at 120km/h could come across this tractor and have very little time to react. This is presenting a clear and present danger to other road users and is a serious tragedy waiting to happen

What is the problem?
1) Tractors on Motorways, or
2) Something else

[Cats_pyjamas]

I say ban the fog. (Or just drive to the road conditions?!)

[MitchT]

Irish Road Haulage Association President said:

A family in a car driving in heavy fog on the motorway at 120km/h could come across this tractor and have very little time to react. This is presenting a clear and present danger to other road users and is a serious tragedy waiting to happen

Surely the correct statement is that a car not being driven to the conditions could come across this tractor and have very little time to react.

[catso]

Last time I was in Dublin there was a horse running down the motorway, didn't seem to cause much of a stir - didn't see any tractors though.

[mac96]

MitchT said:

Irish Road Haulage Association President said:

A family in a car driving in heavy fog on the motorway at 120km/h could come across this tractor and have very little time to react. This is presenting a clear and present danger to other road users and is a serious tragedy waiting to happen

Surely the correct statement is that a car not being driven to the conditions could come across this tractor and have very little time to react.

A lot of people seem unable to manage that here in the UK. Why should the Irish be any better?

On a serious note I imagine that the President of the Irish Road Haulage association wants tractors, the only vehicles slower than his members' trucks, off the roads out of the way, and the nonsense safety argument is trying to find a justification for that otherwise untenable position..

[Rusty Old-Banger]

"Irish Road Haulage Association" aka their version of the Caravan Club.

[menguin]

mac96 said:

MitchT said:

Irish Road Haulage Association President said:

A family in a car driving in heavy fog on the motorway at 120km/h could come across this tractor and have very little time to react. This is presenting a clear and present danger to other road users and is a serious tragedy waiting to happen

Surely the correct statement is that a car not being driven to the conditions could come across this tractor and have very little time to react.

A lot of people seem unable to manage that here in the UK. Why should the Irish be any better?

On a serious note I imagine that the President of the Irish Road Haulage association wants tractors, the only vehicles slower than his members' trucks, off the roads out of the way, and the nonsense safety argument is trying to find a justification for that otherwise untenable position..

I'd say 30mph / 50kph is extremely slow for a motorway - and if nothing else will lead to unneccesary congestion. I would be very surprised if there were not alternative roads more suited for slow moving traffic.

[alangla]

mac96 said:

On a serious note I imagine that the President of the Irish Road Haulage association wants tractors, the only vehicles slower than his members' trucks, off the roads out of the way, and the nonsense safety argument is trying to find a justification for that otherwise untenable position..

Going by what you see on the A75 heading for Cairnryan, Thrust SSC is slower than his members’ trucks.

[Solocle]

menguin said:

I'd say 30mph / 50kph is extremely slow for a motorway - and if nothing else will lead to unneccesary congestion. I would be very surprised if there were not alternative roads more suited for slow moving traffic.

The minimum speed capability for a motor vehicle to be legally allowed on a motorway in the UK is 25 mph... unladen.

[mac96]

menguin said:

mac96 said:

MitchT said:

Irish Road Haulage Association President said:

A family in a car driving in heavy fog on the motorway at 120km/h could come across this tractor and have very little time to react. This is presenting a clear and present danger to other road users and is a serious tragedy waiting to happen

Surely the correct statement is that a car not being driven to the conditions could come across this tractor and have very little time to react.

A lot of people seem unable to manage that here in the UK. Why should the Irish be any better?

On a serious note I imagine that the President of the Irish Road Haulage association wants tractors, the only vehicles slower than his members' trucks, off the roads out of the way, and the nonsense safety argument is trying to find a justification for that otherwise untenable position..

I'd say 30mph / 50kph is extremely slow for a motorway - and if nothing else will lead to unneccesary congestion. I would be very surprised if there were not alternative roads more suited for slow moving traffic.

In which case that should be his argument, not the nonsense about drivers in fog!