Agricultural driving on road

Agricultural Driving in Traffic

Tractors are used to transport hay, silo, fertilizer, and other agricultural products between fields and the farm. This driving often takes place on public roads, where the tractor shares the road with faster traffic.

Wide Equipment and Load

Agricultural equipment is often wider than the tractor itself. Rules for width on public roads:

All loads that extend beyond the width of the vehicle must be marked with reflectors or flags on protruding parts.

Securing Agricultural Loads

Hay bales, silo blocks, and other heavy loads must be secured properly:- Use tightening straps or chains to prevent the load from shifting

• The round bale transporter must have a tailgate that prevents bales from rolling off
• Fertilizer spreaders and trailers with loose loads must have secure tailgates
• Check the load securing after the first few kilometers

Poorly secured load is a serious danger to other road users and can result in fines and liability for damages.

Slow-moving vehicles

A tractor that cannot maintain 40 km/h must have a slow-moving vehicle sign (red-orange triangle) mounted at the rear. Use rotating warning lights (yellow) when you are a significant obstacle to other traffic.

Make sure to let traffic pass that accumulates behind you by using turnouts or wider sections. Unnecessarily obstructing traffic can result in a fine.

Spillage and cleaning

You are obligated to remove soil, mud, and crop residues that the tractor leaves on the road. Spillage on the roadway is a slip hazard for other road users, especially motorcyclists and cyclists.

Prepare for the test with the free theory test .

Further reading

• Read about tools and trailers for weight and dimensions.
• See tractor and the environment for requirements on diesel spills and noise.