27-05-2025
Motorway access for tractors essential for farming
Access for tractors to Ireland's motorway network is essential to agriculture and road safety, according to the Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors In Ireland (FCI).
The association was responding to recent calls by the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) to ban tractors from Ireland's motorway network.
The IRHA has launched a campaign to 'highlight the dangers that tractors and slow-moving vehicles pose to other road users' on the motorway network.
Ger Hyland, IRHA president, said that there are 'no good reasons to allow tractors' to use motorways, adding that currently Ireland is currently 'the only country in the EU' that permits this.
FCI
However the FCI has stressed the importance of maintaining tractor access to these routes for the sustainability of Irish agriculture and rural communities.
Under current regulations, tractors are permitted on motorways in the Republic of Ireland provided they can achieve and maintain a minimum speed of 50 km/hr.
The FCI said that this ensures that only modern, roadworthy agricultural vehicles make use of these high-speed routes.
The association emphasised that tractors operating on motorways are equipped to meet these standards, ensuring safety for all road users.
'A proposed ban on motorway use for tractors would put further pressure on other kinds of roads which already have a high volume of agricultural machinery in the summer months.
'While the IRHA cites safety concerns as a rationale for the proposed ban, the FCI argues that the presence of compliant tractors on motorways does not inherently compromise road safety.
'Instead, the focus should be on enforcing existing speed and safety regulations for all vehicles to ensure a harmonious sharing of road space,' the association said.
Motorways
If tractor access is restricted from motorways, the FCI said this could lead to 'longer travel distances, increased fuel consumption, and higher operational costs for farmers'.
'This not only impacts the agricultural economy but also undermines environmental sustainability efforts by contributing to higher carbon emissions.
'Conversely, many motorists experience a range of the safety issues associated with lorries on Irish secondary roads.
'The size and speed of the vehicles necessitates dangerous manoeuvres from lorry operators and motorists when roads are too narrow for both vehicles to pass.
'However, similarly to tractor use of the motorway network it is a necessity for essential work to be completed and FCI calls for road users to be vigilant and safe when sharing Ireland's road network with tractors and lorries,' the association said.
The FCI urged policymakers to consider 'the integral role that regulated motorway access plays in the efficiency and viability of Irish agriculture'.
'Collaborative efforts should focus on enhancing road safety through education and enforcement rather than imposing blanket restrictions that could adversely affect the farming community,' it said.
