The revised standards apply to both new and existing vehicles and mainly impact on tractors and trailers being driven on the road. They seem complex from the outside and the terminology can sometimes be confusing, so this week in a special feature we try to give a simple picture of what is required.
The RSA say new rules were needed because the old regulations didn’t keep pace with the rate of increase in size and capability of modern machinery in the last 50 years. In fact, the old standards have been in place for more than half a century – during which time tractors have clearly become much bigger, faster and more powerful.
However, one area that hasn’t been changed under the new rules is the driver licensing and testing arrangements for Category W licence holders (tractor license holders).
Nor is there any talk of the introduction of compulsory roadworthiness testing for agricultural vehicles at this time.
So what exactly do farmers need to do to adapt to the revised rules and avoid falling foul of the law? When it comes to tractors, for most users the answer to that question is little or nothing. Trailers are slightly more complex, so I will come to those later.
Source: The new rules of the road for agricultural vehicles – Independent.ie
