Tractors

Tractor Regulations

The NI Legislation and GB legislation in relation to 16 year olds driving on a provisional licence is slightly different, in Northern Ireland the legislation states:

Minimum ages for holding or obtaining licences

6.—(1) Paragraph (1) of Article 17 of the Order(a) (which specifies the minimum age for holding or obtaining a licence to drive certain classes of motor vehicles) shall have effect as if for the classes of vehicle and the ages specified in the Table there were substituted classes of vehicle and ages in accordance with the following provisions.

(2) In item 4 (agricultural and forestry tractors), in the case of an agricultural or forestry tractor which—

(a) is so constructed that the whole of its weight is transmitted to the road surface by means of wheels;

(b) has an overall width not exceeding 2.45 metres;

(c) is driven either—

(i) without a trailer attached to it, or

(ii) with a trailer which has an overall width not exceeding 2.45 metres and is either a two-wheeled or close-coupled four-wheeled trailer; and the age of 16 is substituted for the age of 17 in the case of a person who has passed a test prescribed in respect of category F, but in the case of a person who has not passed the test of competence to drive such a tractor, only while—

(A) taking, proceeding to or returning from such a test; or

(B) engaged in the course of agricultural operations on any road which is not a road where the maximum speed limit under Article 50 of the Order is 30 miles per hour or less.

Whereas the GB legislation states:

Regulation 9(3) In item 4 (agricultural and forestry tractors), in the case of an agricultural or forestry tractor which--

(a) is so constructed that the whole of its weight is transmitted to the road surface by means of wheels,

(b) has an overall width not exceeding 2.45 metres, and

(c) is driven either--

(i) without a trailer attached to it, or

(ii) with a trailer which has an overall width not exceeding 2.45 metres and is either a two-wheeled or close-coupled four-wheeled trailer,

the age of 16 is substituted for the age of 17 in the case of a person who has passed a test prescribed in respect of category F, or is proceeding to, taking or returning from, such a test.

The main difference between the two pieces of legislation is that in Northern Ireland we allow 16 year olds with a provisional licence to engaged in the course of agricultural operations on any road which is not a road where the maximum speed limit under Article 50 of the Order is 30 miles per hour or less, whereas in GB they only allow a 16 year old with a provisional licence to drive to proceed to, taking or returning from, such a test.

For information on Agriculture Tractor Weight Provisions please view the link below NOTE: The relevant regulation is 2(19):

Statutory Amendments

MOTOR VEHICLES CONSTRUCTION AND USE AMENDMENT NI 2016
(Download)

SAFETY INFORMATION

Using Tractors Safely
(Download)