Safe Speed Forums

grrrrrrr



And it's hardly breaking news that in the countryside you get mud on the road when it's wet. I assume you are one of these people that moved to the country with rose tinted views of what it should be like and then complains when it fails to meet your expectaions. I can see the headlines now "Tractor In Using Country Road SHOCKER!".

I see people having heart failure every time I take a tractor on the road. Why have you driven past that suitable pull in when you must have surely seen the big red noisy tractor with an amber flashing beacon? Why then do you expect me go on a soft verge (I can get you out of the ditch, rekon you can get me out?), because the very idea of meeting an agricultural vehicle on a country road has left you paralised? Though my tractor has 24 reverse gears it is considersable longer, wider and more difficult to manover than your Nissan Micra, so is it out of the question to engage the one reverse gear that your car is fitted with and back up to that passing space you would have seen had you been driving with open eyes.

For the record, the tractor I drive is a y2k model, it's spotlessly clean, everything works, has a valid tax disc and those oil inmersed multidisc brakes are in fine fettle. If you dont like living in the country MOVE TO THE TOWN.

Rant, just warming up

Serge, I just can't stand people who think they should be a "special case" because they are such great drivers - in thier own eyes.

So then, is it possibly jealousy on your part because you are a poor driver (i.e., well below the average) who would be incapable of driving safely without the nanny state constantly holding your hand? Sorry, that sounds incredibly condescending now I've read it back but I truly do not understand your (in my mind) irrational point of view on this subject without coming to the conclusion that you have some other, hidden agenda.

No way – I’m OK at driving. The dichotomy is due to a general under appreciation by drivers of the effect the speed limit has on general road safety.

As In Gear says, most drivers do not respond to criticism, and most drivers (you, me, my antagonists, everybody) think they are better than average. The idea that, because a low risk exists per journey, therefore drivers are overwhelmingly successful seems at odds with the fact that thousands get killed in accidents they do not avoid. One could argue that because most drivers make insurance claims for crashes at some point in their lives, they are overwhelmingly unsuccessful.

My intentions are complex, but in this instance, I just want to have some fun with the mugs who disrespect the speed laws.

Now, because there are so few bodies about the same guy that makes the mess has to clear it up and he's not about to start clearing up untill he's finished making the mess is he?

If you lot would pay the true cost of production for your food

regards hedge cutting. We arable types have to cut the hedges to stop the hedges taking over the field

Well sir, was the response. I too will be up at 5:30, however, I have another half hours work here then a hours drive back to the yard and I've had 6 weeks of this so far and there's another 8 weeks to come, so please stop shouting at me because I'm quite tired myself

Living in a rural area, it is frequently brought to my attention how irresponsible people in the agriculture industry are over dropping mud and other detritus on the road. When is the last time you saw a tractor being cleaned before venturing on the public highway or saw a road being brushed clean of manure or mud from fields? Mud dropped by lorries from building sites is sometimes dealt with by a sweeper lorry.
You are lucky even to get a "mud on road" sign these days.
Use of ever wider and larger trailers drwan by "road" tractors at 40 mph doesn't help as the drivers don't bother to slow down when they meet another vehicle on a narrow road - they just drive along the verge without reducing speed, splattering mud all over the road. And then there's the hedge cuttings from tractor-mounted flails, thorns and all, dropped all over the road.
I believe that if one reports a muddy road to the police then they have to do something about it, assuming they can find the culprits.
Rant over....

No easy solutions - except to be aware of the dangers when in the area

Cleaning the mud from the tyres before actually going on the road, would be the most economic option

How is this done? Jacking up tractor and trailer/destoner/harvester/what ever and washing them. If you have ever presure washed a tractor you will know that cleaning the wheels is key to a clean tractor. How ever thats 10 minutes per wheel, then there is still mud going to be dragged out with the machine. We, or at least I, don't like mud flying every where. Even with modern mud gaurds it covers the glass and mirrors and we can't see the muppets trying to kill them selves overtaking.



Farmers sell the product, we only buy it from the supermarkets, based on that farmers have the deciding factor. If farmers are not very good business men in concluding supply contract's, you can hardley blame the public. Used to work for the biggest supplier of spuds to a large crisp producer. When he pointed out to the company that they both needed to make a profit from these spuds they said, sorry, take it or leave it. He's left it.



Aren't the farmers getting yet another subsidy to stop cutting down the hedgerows? The subsidy system has changed to an environmental sytem where we (they) no longer get paid based on production, now they still have to keep the land in a productive state, but do so in a more environmentally way. IE, bigger field margins bushier hedges. Thats what the public wanted, so that's what they are now getting. BTW the yanks, though they won't admit to it get far more subsidy that the european farmer and we have to compete against this and there huge market pressence, huge area and sympathetic government policies

They get paid not to grow crops

Set aside, most farmers would prefer not to be paid to do nothing. The public don't like seeing it, but is a part of the sytem that they don't control.

They get subsidised fuel

RED DIESEL IS NOT SUBSIDISED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is LESS tax on red "off road" fuel. Construction equiptment runs on it. Trains run on it. Planes run on it. Houses run on it. Ware house forklifts run on it. I wish my car ran on it.

Exactley how much support does this type of independant business need.

We (they) have to obey all the stupid laws that every one else does, then compete against subsidiesed, less regulated imports from places like the USA. It's like a haulage company from the US competing with THe British trucking firms. At least most of the laws regarding haulage firms are broadly the same across Europe.

Us normal companies get nothing, except a massive rates & fuel bill.

Many none subsidised cars built in britain? Much non subsidies power produced in britain? Most big companies want some sort of governmental assistance before investing here, or anywhere.



Sounds like some more employees are required to cover the work.

How is this done? Jacking up tractor and trailer/destoner/harvester/what ever and washing them.

The subsidy system has changed to an environmental sytem where we (they) no longer get paid based on production, now they still have to keep the land in a productive state, but do so in a more environmentally way. IE, bigger field margins bushier hedges.

RED DIESEL IS NOT SUBSIDISED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is LESS tax on red "off road" fuel.

Construction equiptment runs on it. Trains run on it. Planes run on it. Houses run on it.

Ware house forklifts run on it.

I wish my car ran on it.

At least most of the laws regarding haulage firms are broadly the same across Europe.

So who's going to pay them? I need the over time too. Our work is very seasonal

Adam,

See if you can work out the how to use the quotes. Your point of view is worth reading but I can't easily work out what it is.

You ,miss understand, you do not have an option, it is a legal requirement

At least most of the laws regarding haulage firms are broadly the same across Europe.

I hope my quoting is easier to read this time....

Reagarding the use of red diesel in farm vehicles - I am under the impression (though I am happy to be corrected) that farm vehicles using it are allowed to travel on the public highway for up to a mile between fields. Obviously this isn't practical when farmers own or rent land in scattered patches, and I can't see Customs & Excise running around dipping tanks unless they suspect some big scam is going on. But I wouldn't be surprised if red diesel is being used by contractors with Fastracs and big 4WD tractors on long hauls of produce and other stuff that they don't own.
Regarding cheap food - the supermarkets are screwing both us (the consumer) and you (the farmer) and making huge profits in some cases.

Of coarse it is, farmers require diesal to run their tractors, i require diesal to run my trucks, the only differance is, haulage pays over double the amount for their diesal as oppossed to farmers.

Red diesel is not subject to this duty because it can only be (legally) used in vehicles that are off road.