Farmers attending a road safety demonstration in Macroom Mart last Thursday, heard that gardai are now strictly enforcing revised rules on maximum towing weights, tyres and vehicle lighting.
The safety event was organised by IFA officers in west Cork and Cork central, in conjunction with the gardai and RSA. Similar demonstrations are being organised by other counties, including one by Tipperary north last week.
At Macroom, two garda PSV officers showed how they use mobile weigh pads to check the weight of vehicles, including tractors and trailers and jeeps and trailer combinations.
They then showed how the maximum towing weight should be calculated. That is done using the maximum towing capacity of a tractor or jeep. The loaded trailer being towed behind the tractor or jeep should not exceed this weight. Separately, the load on a trailer should not exceed the capacity of that trailer.
Harold Kingston, chair of IFA Cork central, told the Irish Farmers Journal that once a farmer calculates what the maximum towing weight for a vehicle and trailer is, that won’t change.
“The towing capacity of tractors or jeeps and the weight and carrying capacity of trailers is shown on their chassis plates. All new vehicles have plates with this information, as well as maximum speed. It will take a bit of searching to get this information for older vehicles.”
The other take home message from the demonstration was that gardai will check tractors and other farm vehicles for lights and brakes, he said. “It’s not just rules, it’s about safety.”
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