DEAR SIR: I know that spring is in the air and it has been a long time since a plough turned a sod in this country, given the weather we have endured for the last two months. Hopefully that is coming to an end as I witnessed a brave heart out ploughing near Bunclody, Co Wexford, last Thursday.

This brings me on to the subject matter of this letter, regarding the lighting systems on modern tractors. They can look like the proverbial “spaceship” in the distance when lit up in the field working all hours of the day and night.

An issue I have encountered lately is when the tractor comes out on to the public road in the dark and the “plough light” is left on, so that the car drivers can see that there is an implement on the tractor.

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Does the tractor driver not realise that a motorist is under the impression that they are actually meeting a vehicle when they see a white light on the road and expect it to be on the “other side” of the road?

The rules are that only red lights are used on the rear of a vehicle and only the headlights used on the front on the public road.

This is an important issue and thank you for highlighting it.