DEAR SIR:

I am writing to you as a farmer and as a person who travels to work off-farm during the day time. I am writing on behalf of all those people who commute along local and regional roads to get to work, school, medical appointments etc on a regular basis.

I know that when I leave home at 7:30 in the morning, that it will take 40 minutes to get to my destination and if I leave at 08:30 it will take 48 to 50 minutes. This is allowing for normal traffic flow along the roads and through towns and villages.

What I, or other motorists do not count on is the tractor driver who holds the road and refuses to pull into a gateway or a lay-by to allow the cars to pass and get on with their journey.

It only serves to frustrate motorists, many of whom I have seen take a chance to pass out and then realise that it is not safe to do and have to pull back in behind again.

There was a case last year where a tractor driver was fined for not pulling in and allowing the traffic to pass. There are many tractor drivers who do give way and thankfully it is only a minority who do not. While it is not compulsory to pull in, it would be courteous to do so.