Sir, – In most western European countries, agricultural machinery is not permitted to use motorways. In Ireland it is common to observe tractors on the motorway, often drawing large trailers. Moreover, it is consistent with the letter of the law: vehicles that can maintain 50km/h are permitted, and the current generation of powerful tractors can manage this. The fact that they will often drive half in the hard shoulder is, of course, entirely illegal, but shows that they feel their presence is a problem.
Notwithstanding the legality, large heavy vehicles travelling at 50km/h when the bulk of traffic is travelling around 120km/h represent a danger, nullifying one of the main safety factors of motorway design.
On French motorways in mountainous regions, warning signs are shown, climbing lanes are provided, and the overall speed limit is reduced by 20km/h. French law is also clear: “engins agricoles” are banned from motorways and fast dual-carriageways.
The Government has two options: raise the threshold to 60km/h, and enforce it with a view to excluding agricultural machinery from the motorways; or leave it as it is, and reduce the motorway speed limit to 100km/h with a view to accommodating agricultural machinery. – Yours, etc,
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BRENDAN HALPIN,
Annacotty,
Limerick.
