Agricultural Vehicles on the Road
We do our best to ensure everything is maintained to the highest standard, we spend a lot of time and money on equipment, lights and warnings etc. We feel strongly about this issue.
We have a listed the regulations and conditions on these issues below for your viewing.
Further info can be gained from the traffic officer companion hand book ISBN-10: 0710628625 and the Agricultural notebook ISBN-10: 0632058293
Conditions relating to widths
Agricultural Vehicles, Tractors, Combine Harvesters, Self-Propelled Foragers Etc.Vehicles without trailed appliance.
| Up to 2.5m | No Restrictions |
| 2.55 - 3.0m | Speed limit 20mph |
| 3.0 - 3.5m | - Notification of Police* - Additional lights during hours of darkness, or in poor visibility - Speed limit of 20mph |
| 3.5 - 4.3m | - Notification to Police* - Extremities of vehicle made clearly visible - Additional lights during hours of darkness, or in poor visibility - Escort vehicle requiried to warn other road users - Speed limit 12mph |
| Over 4.3m | - Obtain written consent from the chief officer of police - Extremities of vehicle made clearly visible - Additional lights during hours of darkness, or in poor visibilty - Escort vehicle requiried to warn other road users - Speed limit of 12mph |
* 24 Hours notice must be given to the Chief Officer or Police only if:
- the journey will exceed 5 miles, or
- the journey will include roads with speed limits of 40 mph or less.
The Chief Constable may dispense with the need to nitify in the area, but the other conditions still apply. Some Police forces restrict movement to daylight hours only. If unsure, contact your Abnormal Loads Officer at your local Police Headquarters.
Conditions relating to Widths
Agricultural Vehicles with trailed appliances and implementsVehicles with trailed appliances
| Up to 2.5m | No Restrictions |
| 2.55 - 3.0m | Speed limit 20mph |
| 3.0 - 3.5m | - Notification of Police* - Additional lights during hours of darkness, or in poor visibility - Speed limit of 20mph - Restrictions on trailers* |
| 3.5 - 4.3m | - Notification to Police* - Extremities of vehicle made clearly visible - Additional lights during hours of darkness, or in poor visibility - Escort vehicle requiried to warn other road users - Speed limit 12mph - Restrictions on trailers* |
| Over 4.3m | - Obtain written consent from the chief officer of police - Extremities of vehicle made clearly visible - Additional lights during hours of darkness, or in poor visibilty - Escort vehicle requiried to warn other road users - Speed limit of 12mph |
* 24 Hours notice must be given to the Chief Officer or Police only if:
- the journey will exceed 5 miles, or
- the journey will include roads with speed limits of 40 mph or less.
The Chief Constable may dispense with the need to nitify in the area, but the other conditions still apply. Some Police forces restrict movement to daylight hours only.
If unsure, contact your Abnormal Loads Officer at your local Police Headquarters.
* The trailers permitted are:
- a two wheeled trailer for the carriage of equipment;
- an agricultural trailed appliance;
- an unladen trailer specially designed for use with the towing vehicle when it is harvesting.
Conditions relating to Projections
Rearwards or Forwards projecting implements which are ridgidly mounted and not articulated on agricultural vehicles
| Up to 1m | No Restrictions |
| 1.0 - 2.0m | - Projections guarded and clearly visible from the sides and the end of the vehicle where the prejection extends - Lights requiried during the hours of darkness or in poor visibility |
| 2.0 - 3.0m | - Projections guarded and clearly visible from the sides and the end of the vehicle where the prejection extends - Lights requiried during the hours of darkness or in poor visibility - End marker fitted to the end of the projection |
| 3.0 - 4.0m | - Projections guarded and clearly visible from the sides and the end of the vehicle where the prejection extends - Lights requiried during the hours of darkness or in poor visibility - End marker fitted to the end of the projection - Side markers fitted to the left and right hand side of the projection |
| 4.0 - 6.0m | - Notifictaion to Police - Projections guarded and clearly visible from the sides and the end of the vehicle where the prejection extends - Lights requiried during the hours of darkness or in poor visibility - End marker fitted to the end of the projection - Side markers fitted to the left and right hand side of the projection - Escort Vehicle required to warn other road users |
| Over 6.0m | - Notifictaion to Police - Projections guarded and clearly visible from the sides and the end of the vehicle where the prejection extends - Lights requiried during the hours of darkness or in poor visibility - End marker fitted to the end of the projection - Side markers fitted to the left and right hand side of the projection - Escort Vehicle required to warn other road users |
* 24 Hours notice must be given to the Chief Officer or Police only if:
- the journey will exceed 5 miles, or
- the journey will include roads with speed limits of 40 mph or less.
The Chief Constable may dispense with the need to nitify in the area, but the other conditions still apply. Some Police forces restrict movement to daylight hours only. If unsure, contact your Abnormal Loads Officer at your local Police Headquarters.
* Additional markers must be fitted to the right hand side and left hand side of the projection so that the nearest point of any adjacent side marker does not exceed:
a) 2.5m in the case of forward projection
b) in the case of a rearward projection
Lighting
If vehicles are to be used ona road during the hours of darkness and/or in adverse weather conditions, lights must be fitted and used. Lighting requirements vary greatly dependant upon age, speed and user of vehicle or tailer. If in doubt seek advice.
Amber flashing beacons
An agricultural motor vehicle with a maximum speed of 25mph can fit and use an amber rotating flashing beacon when on a road.
If the vehicle travels on a dual carriageway with a speed limit in excess of 50mph a flashing beacon must have the lamp operating.
If the load on a trailer towed by an agricultural motor vehicle obscures the beacon of the towing vehicle from the rear the trialer must be fitted with a beacon.
Projections
All spikes, cutting blades or other protuding sharp appliances must be removed or effectively guarded in all circumstances.
Mud on the Road
- Mud, manure and other materials cause an inconvenience to other raod users;
- A clean vehicle means a clean road;
- It is an offence to leave mud on the road;
-The Police can require the Highway Authority to clean mud from the road and recover the cost of doing so from the person responsible for depositing it.
A few other points to be aware of
Overhead power lines
Electricty can flash over when machinery and equipment gets close to overhead lines. You should be aware of the danger of power lines, the precautions to follow and what to do if contact is made.
Low Bridges
Anticipate low bridges befire the start of your journey and if necessary plan your route around them.
Manhole covers and drains
Take care whilts moving large machinery to avoid damaging any manhole covers and drains.