Laois farmer and trucker in war of words over call to 'kick' tractors off motorways

Tractors and slow-moving vehicles must be banned from motorways that traverse Laois and other counties according to a Rosenallis man who heads the organisation that represents Irish truckers.

The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) President, Ger Hyland, made the call after the association launched a campaign to highlight the dangers of tractors and slow-moving vehicles on motorways.

However, farmers have rejected the appeal with another Laois man Francie Gorman, who is IFA President, saying it was an effort to "corner the market" for goods transport on motorways.

Mr Hyland, who runs a successful trucking company out of Rosenallis, said Ireland is the only EU country that allows tractors on motorways. He said there are no good reasons to allow motorists in tractors to use our motorways.

“Tractors cause a build-up of traffic behind them on the motorway, with people pulling into other lanes at the last minute to avoid the slow-moving tractor. Tractors are a regular sight on our motorways during the summer months, sometimes pulling trailers of hay and silage bales or pulling slurry spreaders or other heavy machinery.

"A family in a car driving in heavy fog on the motorway at 120 km per hour 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," he said.

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Tractors are legally permitted on motorways in the Republic, providing that the tractor is capable of reaching a minimum speed of 50km/h. 

However, Mr Hyland and his colleagues say trucks are getting stuck behind tractors and trailers leading to congestion and dangerous manoeuvring on the motorway network.

The Association urged the Government to heed guidance issued by the Health and Safety Authority, who said that “as a general rule farm tractors and machinery should not be driven on motorways as they create a serious hazard to other road users due to their slow speed”

Mr Hyland pointed to some recent tragedies on our roads involving tractors on motorways.

“We have flagged some high-profile accidents already including the death of a father of two in his 30s, who was killed when the car in which he was a passenger was in collision with a tractor on the M1 Northbound between Junctions 12 & 14 at Mooremont, Co. Louth in 2023. This just isn’t safe. In many cases, these tractors are been driven by young lads on provisional licenses who just don’t have the driving experience to handle difficult road conditions on a motorway,” he said.

Mr Hyland said tractors driving on our motorways are often driving at speeds below 50km per hour, in particular when going up inclines, especially if they have a heavy load attached.

However, the IFA President said his association would oppose any move to drive tractors off our motorways. A statement said tractors that travel on the motorway are equipped for speeds above 50km. Tractors with a lower speed are not allowed to travel on motorways.

It added that in most cases, the journey tractors are undertaking is local, so the time spent on the motorway is short. The IFA also say many farm holdings are fragmented, so farmers need access to the road network.

“This attempt to ban tractors from our motorways has nothing to do with road safety, as implied by the IHRA. It is part of a campaign to corner the market for transporting goods on our roads,” said Mr Gorman.

The Association called on the Government to work with the Road Safety Authority and the Irish Farmers Association to take action and ensure that tractors stick to local and regional roads and not use motorways that are designed for fast moving intercity traffic.

"Irish Hauliers say government must kick tractors and slow moving construction vehicles off our motorways if they are serious about road safety," said a press statement.

Both the M8 and M7 roads cross Laois, which is also the location for a toll booth for traffic travelling between Cork, Dublin and Limerick.