Rural road safety appeal

WITH the silage season almost in full swing, the state’s dairy farmer organisation has appealed for all rural road users to be aware and concentrate over the next six weeks or so.

Shane O’Loughlin, Chairperson of Wicklow ICMSA has appealed to all road users to exercise caution during this time.

‘Over that period there will be a very significant increase in the number of tractors and other farm machines on rural roads and it was incumbent on all roads users - whether farmers, contractors, car users, cyclists or pedestrians - to take additional precautions to ensure that silage can be harvested safely and without any accidents on roads,’ he said.

Mr O’Loughlin noted that agricultural machinery has got bigger over the years and particularly on narrow rural roads, it is critical that all road users take extra care and ‘expect the unexpected’ over the next six weeks.