Gardaí in Co Kilkenny issued a fine to a driver carrying straw bales that were “tilted” on the trailer and ordered the driver to immediately rectify the issue on Monday.

An Garda Síochána Kilkenny attached to the roads policing unit referred to the stacking as the “leaning tower of Leggettsrath” and said that the bales had become a hazard to other road users.

“It was tilted sufficiently to make it a huge hazard to other road users,” gardaí said.

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“The driver was ordered to rectify it immediately and was also issued a [fixed charge notice] for 51a, due consideration of other road users.

Potential consequences

“The consequences of this load becoming dislodged could be catastrophic, especially for a cyclist or pedestrian.”

Section of 51(A) of the Road Traffic Act 2011 states that: “A person shall not drive a vehicle in a public place without reasonable consideration for other persons using the place.”

Further road incidents highlighted by an Garda Síochána over the course of 2025 include a fertiliser haulier found to have been speeding, under the influence of cocaine and with no insurance or tax, as well as a separate incident where a tractor was found to have overly-tinted windows.