The Road Safety Authority (RSA) will launch its new information booklet at Ploughing 2014. The booklet is based on revised standards for agricultural vehicles legislation introduced some months ago. The RSA will be distributing the booklet to interested parties from its stand (block 2, row 22, stand 315) during the event.

RSA personnel will be present to provide advice and information on the recently introduced revised standards for agricultural vehicles which come into effect from 1 January 2016. 

This booklet has been developed as a guide for farmers, contractors, manufacturers and the general farming community to the new rules. The revised standards apply to four particular areas – braking, lighting and visibility, weights, dimensions and coupling, and plating and speed rating.

The booklet is a must-read for anyone using tractors and trailers on the road and for trailer and machinery manufacturers who produce farm machinery for the Irish market.

The booklet is produced in easy-to-read English. It is divided into clear sections.

Section 1 contains a glossary of terms which lists and explains some general terminology common to all of the four areas. Section 2 explains why the standards have been revised and gives a summary of the improvements in the four areas which will be affected by the changes. Sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 give detailed information on the revised standards for each area.

Each of these sections begins with a glossary of terms which relate specifically to the section topic, and ends with a list of frequently asked questions with practical advice on how you can achieve compliance.

Section 7 lists useful contacts and sites where you can get more information if you need it.

Section 8 is an appendix which contains detailed summary tables of the national weight limits being introduced for agricultural tractors and trailers.

The RSA will also feature a section on road safety with their interactive shuttle and car roll simulator.