The roadworthiness test on fast tractors as revealed by the Irish Farmers Journal will mirror the test now carried out on Heavy Commercial Vehicles, modified where necessary, according to the RSA.
This was outlined to stakeholders at last week’s meeting in Co Kildare on the issue.
The RSA gave stakeholders a draft of possible test headings which runs to over 20 pages and would require examination of more than 850 items on a tractor.
That excludes other items crossed off as not relevant to tractors.
Failure of an item could be rated as dangerous, major or in a few instances minor.
The items cover:
Vehicle identificationBrakingSteeringVisibility from cabLampsReflectorsElectrical equipmentDirection indicatorsHazard warning lightsAxlesWheelsTyresSuspensionChassisCabBodyworkSafety restraintsLocksHornSpeedometerEmissionsNoise. The RSA told last week’s meeting that it will consult with stakeholders before finalising a specific test manual for tractors ahead of next May.
The minister writes
IFA president Joe Healy has written to Minister for Transport Shane Ross seeking changes to the new legislation.
It is excessive, unnecessary and goes further than the requirements of the EU directive, he said. Minister Ross reneged on his commitment to consult with stakeholders ahead of introducing new laws, Healy added.
IFA grain chair Liam Dunne said farmers were already legally required under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 to ensure that brakes, handbrake, mirrors, lights, indicators, wipers and hitches were all in working order. “This is needless duplication,” he said.
He said the majority of farmers are not involved in commercial haulage and farmers transporting their livestock to marts and factories do not get paid for this. The number of factories processing sheep, for example, continues to fall, requiring farmers to drive further.
Read more
What you need to know about the tractor NCT
The roadworthiness test on fast tractors as revealed by the Irish Farmers Journal will mirror the test now carried out on Heavy Commercial Vehicles, modified where necessary, according to the RSA.
This was outlined to stakeholders at last week’s meeting in Co Kildare on the issue.
The RSA gave stakeholders a draft of possible test headings which runs to over 20 pages and would require examination of more than 850 items on a tractor.
That excludes other items crossed off as not relevant to tractors.
Failure of an item could be rated as dangerous, major or in a few instances minor.
The items cover:
Vehicle identificationBrakingSteeringVisibility from cabLampsReflectorsElectrical equipmentDirection indicatorsHazard warning lightsAxlesWheelsTyresSuspensionChassisCabBodyworkSafety restraintsLocksHornSpeedometerEmissionsNoise. The RSA told last week’s meeting that it will consult with stakeholders before finalising a specific test manual for tractors ahead of next May.
The minister writes
IFA president Joe Healy has written to Minister for Transport Shane Ross seeking changes to the new legislation.
It is excessive, unnecessary and goes further than the requirements of the EU directive, he said. Minister Ross reneged on his commitment to consult with stakeholders ahead of introducing new laws, Healy added.
IFA grain chair Liam Dunne said farmers were already legally required under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 to ensure that brakes, handbrake, mirrors, lights, indicators, wipers and hitches were all in working order. “This is needless duplication,” he said.
He said the majority of farmers are not involved in commercial haulage and farmers transporting their livestock to marts and factories do not get paid for this. The number of factories processing sheep, for example, continues to fall, requiring farmers to drive further.
Read more
What you need to know about the tractor NCT
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