Calls for tractors to be banned from motorways

Tractors must be banned from using motorways to improve road safety, according to truck drivers.

The Irish Road Haulage Association is calling on the Government and Road Safety Authority to impose tighter restrictions.

Currently, the law allows for machinery to use motorways if the vehicle can maintain a speed of 50 kilometres per hour.

Farmers say they will oppose any move to drive tractors off motorways.

Irish Farmers Association President, Francie Gorman says the journeys tractors undertake on motorways are often short, and farmers need access to the road network.

IRHA President Ger Hyland says there's a particular hazard for drivers approaching from behind at speed.

"You have a car coming up behind them, and next thing they realise they are too close to the tractor in front. They have nowhere to go, they look to the overtaking lane, and it is full.

"So then you have them taking the hard shoulder to overtake the tractor because they cannot stop in time.

"If they do jam up on the motorway, you are likely to have a domino effect where one vehicle goes into another behind."