But I still don’t think it’s acceptable to drop a load of crap all over the road.
True.
But I still don’t think it’s acceptable to drop a load of crap all over the road.
It's not, & not acceptable for anyone :
The law on mud on the roads<br />Farmers and vehicle operators who deposit mud on the road are potentially liable for a range of offences and may face prosecution and a fine.
There is a range of powers available to the police and the highways departments of local authorities. Most of the powers are laid out in the Highways Act 1980.
Section 148 of the act makes it an offence to deposit mud and other materials on the highway that would interrupt other users of the highway.
Section 161 of the act states: “If a person, without lawful authority or excuse, deposits anything whatsoever on the highway in consequence of which a user of the highway is injured or endangered, that person is guilty of an offence.”<br />Civil action<br />When mud has contributed to personal injury or damage to property, it is possible that civil action may be undertaken.
The presence of mud on the highway can constitute a public nuisance and loss or injury can result in a claim for negligence.<br />The act also gives the highways authority the power to recover any expenses incurred from having to clean an obstruction on the highway.
In addition, driving a tractor on the public highway with a significant amount of mud attached to it may be considered as ‘dangerous driving’ under the Road Traffic Act 1988. Under this act, section 2a states that the term ‘dangerous’ can include anything which is attached to a vehicle which can include mud.
Farmers also have obligations under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and to look after the health and safety of themselves, their employees and anyone who may be affected by a working operation.
round here the biggest issue on country and hill roads is when they are timber harvesting - the wagons literally demolish the small single track roads and they then remain so until taxpayer foots the repair bill- and the timber harvesting industry doesnt pay any tax into the general coffers as its exempt from corporate and income tax!
Was expecting a thread about Mrs S being unable to keep her new car clean.
I is disappoint.
IIRC The maximum weight of a laden agriculture tractor and trailer on the road is 31t. This is almost equal to a HGV 8-axle rigid tipper. The former requires a B Licence (car driver) & the latter a C or C+E licence. They are supposedly limited to 20/25mph but most seem to travel faster than this!
The law on mud on the roadsFarmers and vehicle operators who deposit mud on the road are potentially liable for a range of offences and may face prosecution and a fine.
Does 'deposit' imply intent or does it cover muck that just falls off?
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1168327
Another reason I won't be going electric soon - carrying the bike over thorns.
Does ‘deposit’ imply intent or does it cover muck that just falls off?
I would argue that in the same vein as "you should be responsible for driving according to the conditions. No excuses." drivers have no excuses for the poor condition of their vehicles or the loads they're transporting.
The farmers in our area move snow on minor roads when the Council are over whelmed , clear fallen trees, clear blocked drains in heavy rain to drain puddles/flooded section of roads but some do have a few bad habits with vehicles.
I think they just want to slow traffic in front of farm entrances?
Frustrating on a road bike, no very close clearance mudguards! But mudguards essential!
Some drivers I think are on price and hence not immediately local and time is money! Those tractors and trailers would take a while to stop in an emergency, and flatten a car!
I totally second aggs comments above re their maintenance of local roads in times of trouble. We had 3 field entances within about 200m opposite us, all arable, so you can imagine the crap that could end up out there. However our farmer was super diligent, he was also a contractor with loads of kit. 2" deep mud would bring out the skidsteer to scrape it up then a road sweeper to clean down. His motivation?
His lovely wife had a top of the range RR and there was no way she was driving it through that shite🤣🤣
One thing I have noticed about those mahoosive tractors we get around us is they don’t half shift!
I’d bloody love a go in one!
What about the fact this large kit, tends to be on big wide floatation tyres these days.
In attempt to reduce ground compaction and spread the weight better, so is actually causing less damage to the road than cars? Or even a really fat person on super skinny road tyres?
We all remember that coked up tractor driver literally flattening a car?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-suffolk-65815028
I basically treat them as slightly smaller monster trucks on the road.
