Tractors?

Author
Discussion

Ares

Original Poster:

11,000 posts

120 months

Monday 16th March 2020
quotequote all
The number of tractors on the road seems to have increased recently? And not just rural/farming areas, every where. And not obviously farmer owned/driven; towing construction equipment, DIY/House Maintenance supplies.

Have they suddenly become more tax efficient than trucks for some sectors?

No longer a major issue being held up on residential A/B-Roads or town centre roads, they can bat along at 30/35 (and get there pretty quickly) but their size is arguably a little anti-social for small town use.

Encountered 3 when on my bike earlier, all in small towns/villages..... Certainly pulse-quickening when on a 6kg push bike....

eltax91

9,865 posts

206 months

Monday 16th March 2020
quotequote all
They got a lot faster lately. So can now tow at road speeds. The farmers are supplementing their income by subcontracting themselves out, no tacho, no expensive insurance and nice tank full of red.

It’s been on the increase here for a while. Lots of large farms locally but also two massive distribution centres shunting stock between themselves and within 5 miles radius 8 new housing projects of over 150 units.

It’s very common to see the same tractor going back and forth all day long towing a trailer full of spoil one way.

bobtail4x4

3,714 posts

109 months

Monday 16th March 2020
quotequote all
for the last few weeks they have not been able to get on the land,
its dry now so they are all trying

Blockbuster

220 posts

61 months

Monday 16th March 2020
quotequote all
I was on the A90 at rush hour the other week (major dual carriageway in Scotland) when suddenly ahead there's brake lights everywhere, people putting their hazards, etc.

I thought it must have been an accident or something, but nope, just a tractor chugging along at 30mph whilst everyone else is doing 70mph+.

And don't get me started on the road between the A1 and Great Yarmouth (the A47 I think it might have been). It's absolute torture to drive on due to the sheer volume of tractors.

They're a complete menace, dangerous even and should only be allowed on the roads 22:00 to 05:00.

I've done many road trips round the USA and don't recall being held up by a single tractor there.

Unexpected Item In The Bagging Area

7,021 posts

189 months

Monday 16th March 2020
quotequote all
There’s always loads of them flying around here too, I’d say 50/50 split between agricultural use and moving either soil or plant around. They’re often driven too fast for the lanes and their capabilities but I guess the drivers are always in a rush to be somewhere. It’s a bit crazy at harvesting time with them buzzing up and down day and night.

TVR nut

303 posts

173 months

Monday 16th March 2020
quotequote all
Blockbuster said:
I was on the A90 at rush hour the other week (major dual carriageway in Scotland) when suddenly ahead there's brake lights everywhere, people putting their hazards, etc.

I thought it must have been an accident or something, but nope, just a tractor chugging along at 30mph whilst everyone else is doing 70mph+.

And don't get me started on the road between the A1 and Great Yarmouth (the A47 I think it might have been). It's absolute torture to drive on due to the sheer volume of tractors.

They're a complete menace, dangerous even and should only be allowed on the roads 22:00 to 05:00.

I've done many road trips round the USA and don't recall being held up by a single tractor there.
Have you eaten today? Take a bit of time to think where that food came from and how it got to a shelf in your chosen store. Then thank those guys in the tractors.
They have to get between fields and jobs like everyone else. Yes they are slow and wide but if road user keep an eye open for the multiple flashing orange lights on them they tend to be quite visible.
Farmers have very limited weather windows to get the job done and at a time when imports may become difficult, you may be thankful for the guy working 18 hour days on that tractor?

Aids0G

498 posts

149 months

Monday 16th March 2020
quotequote all
TVR nut said:
Blockbuster said:
I was on the A90 at rush hour the other week (major dual carriageway in Scotland) when suddenly ahead there's brake lights everywhere, people putting their hazards, etc.

I thought it must have been an accident or something, but nope, just a tractor chugging along at 30mph whilst everyone else is doing 70mph+.

And don't get me started on the road between the A1 and Great Yarmouth (the A47 I think it might have been). It's absolute torture to drive on due to the sheer volume of tractors.

They're a complete menace, dangerous even and should only be allowed on the roads 22:00 to 05:00.

I've done many road trips round the USA and don't recall being held up by a single tractor there.
Have you eaten today? Take a bit of time to think where that food came from and how it got to a shelf in your chosen store. Then thank those guys in the tractors.
They have to get between fields and jobs like everyone else. Yes they are slow and wide but if road user keep an eye open for the multiple flashing orange lights on them they tend to be quite visible.
Farmers have very limited weather windows to get the job done and at a time when imports may become difficult, you may be thankful for the guy working 18 hour days on that tractor?
Well said, tractors are so much faster now they hold up traffic a huge amount less, 50 - 60kph normal + air brakes so they stop a hell of a lot better than they used to!

As for the time limits of use ok, so really then according to our employment we should only be allowed to commute at certain times! 7-8 for vets 8-8:30 for mechanics 8:30 - 9:00 for insurance salesmen not sure that would work somehow! Might do wonders for the traffic tho!!!

gazza285

9,805 posts

208 months

Monday 16th March 2020
quotequote all
Blockbuster said:
I was on the A90 at rush hour the other week (major dual carriageway in Scotland) when suddenly ahead there's brake lights everywhere, people putting their hazards, etc.

I thought it must have been an accident or something, but nope, just a tractor chugging along at 30mph whilst everyone else is doing 70mph+.

And don't get me started on the road between the A1 and Great Yarmouth (the A47 I think it might have been). It's absolute torture to drive on due to the sheer volume of tractors.

They're a complete menace, dangerous even and should only be allowed on the roads 22:00 to 05:00.

I've done many road trips round the USA and don't recall being held up by a single tractor there.
What were you doing that was so important?

Ares

Original Poster:

11,000 posts

120 months

Tuesday 17th March 2020
quotequote all
The ones round here are all seemingly new, very big and very well driven.

They also don't appear to be going betwixt field and farm.

JM

3,170 posts

206 months

Tuesday 17th March 2020
quotequote all
Blockbuster said:
I was on the A90 at rush hour the other week (major dual carriageway in Scotland) when suddenly ahead there's brake lights everywhere, people putting their hazards, etc.

I thought it must have been an accident or something, but nope, just a tractor chugging along at 30mph whilst everyone else is doing 70mph+.
Rush hour and over 70mph on the A90, doubt it.

And that's not considering the average speed cameras.

If you set cruise at 72 you will be one of the fastest vehicles on the A90 between Dundee and Aberdeen.

Earthdweller

13,501 posts

126 months

Tuesday 17th March 2020
quotequote all
Aids0G said:
TVR nut said:
Blockbuster said:
I was on the A90 at rush hour the other week (major dual carriageway in Scotland) when suddenly ahead there's brake lights everywhere, people putting their hazards, etc.

I thought it must have been an accident or something, but nope, just a tractor chugging along at 30mph whilst everyone else is doing 70mph+.

And don't get me started on the road between the A1 and Great Yarmouth (the A47 I think it might have been). It's absolute torture to drive on due to the sheer volume of tractors.

They're a complete menace, dangerous even and should only be allowed on the roads 22:00 to 05:00.

I've done many road trips round the USA and don't recall being held up by a single tractor there.
Have you eaten today? Take a bit of time to think where that food came from and how it got to a shelf in your chosen store. Then thank those guys in the tractors.
They have to get between fields and jobs like everyone else. Yes they are slow and wide but if road user keep an eye open for the multiple flashing orange lights on them they tend to be quite visible.
Farmers have very limited weather windows to get the job done and at a time when imports may become difficult, you may be thankful for the guy working 18 hour days on that tractor?
Well said, tractors are so much faster now they hold up traffic a huge amount less, 50 - 60kph normal + air brakes so they stop a hell of a lot better than they used to!

As for the time limits of use ok, so really then according to our employment we should only be allowed to commute at certain times! 7-8 for vets 8-8:30 for mechanics 8:30 - 9:00 for insurance salesmen not sure that would work somehow! Might do wonders for the traffic tho!!!
I live in the country

Deep in farming land .. the weather has been so bad this winter that as soon as they can get in the land they will

As for restricting their hours laugh

I’ve seen them hit the fields here at 4am and still be going at 4am the next morning

Then for weeks there’ll hardy be one on the roads

As another said

“Have you eaten anything today ?”


Mikee19

591 posts

96 months

Tuesday 17th March 2020
quotequote all
Probably out drilling after failing to get a winter wheat in.

Skyedriver

17,802 posts

282 months

Tuesday 17th March 2020
quotequote all
I used to live in N Yorkshire, the tractors used to drive in and out of fields trailing large clumps of soil, mud, slurry onto the public highway.
It created a hazard for road users, saw a number of cars through fences and into walls having skidded on their crap.
They get away with creating this hazard yet construction sites have to keep the road clear of mud by deed of Planning Approval.
to the OP I saw a cyclist trapped between two, the one in front flinging mud off its tyres the one behind trying to run him over....He had nowhere to go but keep pedalling and getting lumps of clay thrown at him.

Brads67

3,199 posts

98 months

Tuesday 17th March 2020
quotequote all
I wish I needed a tractor, bloody love the things.

Roger Irrelevant

2,918 posts

113 months

Tuesday 17th March 2020
quotequote all
I've never understood why people get het up about tractors on the roads; they're so expensive to buy and run that they're not going to be out on a jolly, and there's a good chance that they're involved in perhaps the most useful activity of all - putting food on our plates. What are the whingers doing that is more important than that? Doubtless they'd claim that they're always on the way to a super important meeting on which hangs the fate of thousands when they encounter a tractor, but the truth is more likely to be that they're rushing home so they can eat their turkey drummers while watching Corrie.

Blockbuster

220 posts

61 months

Tuesday 17th March 2020
quotequote all
JM said:
Rush hour and over 70mph on the A90, doubt it.

And that's not considering the average speed cameras.

If you set cruise at 72 you will be one of the fastest vehicles on the A90 between Dundee and Aberdeen.
It was the Dundee to Perth section. No cameras on that stretch.

bighop

138 posts

97 months

Tuesday 17th March 2020
quotequote all
Tidying up and weighing in old scrap whilst the weather is pants.

Blakewater

4,308 posts

157 months

Tuesday 17th March 2020
quotequote all
There are plenty up and down past my office in the middle of a town. Some working on building and demolition sites, some carrying trailers piled high with wasted veg. It's amazing how much perfectly decent looking veg gets carted away in trailers, presumably because it's not supermarket quality. Given present circumstances, supermarkets and customers will probably have to start being grateful for the wonky and undersized but perfectly nutritious veg.

Ares

Original Poster:

11,000 posts

120 months

Wednesday 18th March 2020
quotequote all
Skyedriver said:
I used to live in N Yorkshire, the tractors used to drive in and out of fields trailing large clumps of soil, mud, slurry onto the public highway.
It created a hazard for road users, saw a number of cars through fences and into walls having skidded on their crap.
They get away with creating this hazard yet construction sites have to keep the road clear of mud by deed of Planning Approval.
to the OP I saw a cyclist trapped between two, the one in front flinging mud off its tyres the one behind trying to run him over....He had nowhere to go but keep pedalling and getting lumps of clay thrown at him.
That's comparatively rare. From my experience, Tractor drivers and HGV are amongst the most courteous on the road towards cyclists.

mikeswagon

688 posts

141 months

Wednesday 18th March 2020
quotequote all
Born and raised in rural Aberdeenshire…. so a teuchter (yokel if you like).

It's generally true they're faster than they used to be, so they don't slow you up much on the local A roads. You tend to get a feeling for where they're going, so allow them a bit of slack when they pass a layby only to turn off just down the road.

Seems I'm one of the few who thank those that do pull in to let a queue past.