Provisional license exemption for tractors ?

[rockofcashel]

Some farming groups have called on the Government to exempt tractors from the legislation covering provisional licence holders.

At first glance, this might seem like farmers whinging, but when you think about it, it does cause a problem.

Tractors only have one seat .. so where is a qualified person supposed to sit to help train someone wishing to learn how to drive a tractor ?

You might say, that in that case, only fully licensed drivers should be entitled to drive a tractor... but I have a full license, and I couldn't do it .. so that doesn't make any sense either.

Many younger family members of farming families do drive tractors in helping out at the farm... so how will they be able to help if it means they are not entitled to drive a tractor ?

[Mikewex]

You don't need a licence (of any sort) if you are using a tractor on your own fields. Its only if you go on the road that its an issue. Surely plenty of scope to learn off road?

[rockofcashel]

You don't need a licence (of any sort) if you are using a tractor on your own fields. Its only if you go on the road that its an issue. Surely plenty of scope to learn off road?

I'm sure you will appreciate, that there is a substantial difference between driving a tractor in a field, and on a road

[DaveM]

On the other hand tractors have the potential to cause significantly more damage in accidents than cars do. It's a difficult one to solve but on balance I would say that the safety of the general public should be the deciding factor in this one and tractors should not be the subject of an exemption.

[TheBear]

<Mod>Moved to the Transport forum.</Mod>

[rockofcashel]

On the other hand tractors have the potential to cause significantly more damage in accidents than cars do. It's a difficult one to solve but on balance I would say that the safety of the general public should be the deciding factor in this one and tractors should not be the subject of an exemption.

So how should a person learn to drive a tractor on an road ?

[The OD]

On the other hand tractors have the potential to cause significantly more damage in accidents than cars do. It's a difficult one to solve but on balance I would say that the safety of the general public should be the deciding factor in this one and tractors should not be the subject of an exemption.

Dont know about that - sure they are bigger and more powerful, but they are also slower. I think I'd prefer to be hit (in a vehicle anyway) by a 20mph tractor than a 40 mph car.

[DaveM]

As I said it's a difficult on to solve but the question as I'd see it is whether the need of learner drivers outweighs the potential health and safety implications of their being allowed drive on public roads. My personal opinion is that the health and safety implications are too serious.

Third party instruction could be the way to go here, i.e. along the lines of the CSCS scheme in the construction industry. Once they have successfully completed a course such as this provisional licence holders could then use public roads in the remaining period until they were tested. This ensures a degree of competency is established before the driver takes to the road. As for the cost of such a scheme options in terms of writing off the cost partially or totally against tax could be looked into to ensure farmers are not unfairly burdened. Please bear in mind that these are just off the cuff thoughts so I'm not proposing them as being infallible!

[Wolverine]

Whoops! Another example of Noel Dempsey failing to correctly implement Government policy.

Thankfully Bertie Ahern has decided to keep him on.

[Mikewex]

What is the test to get a tractor licence anyway? I presume that there is a seperate one as (if memory serves) its a distinct class?