Farmers set to benefit from increase in tractor weights and speeds
New weight and speed limits for tractors to boost agricultural economy.
Speed and weight limits for tractors have increased today (9 March 2015) in a move welcomed by the farming community.
Transport Minister Claire Perry said:
These changes will allow tractors to carry more produce per journey, meaning less traffic on our roads and almost £60 million savings for the hard-working farming community each year.
Farms are the life-blood of rural communities and helping them is part of the government’s long-term economic plan to improve the lives of people up and down the country.
Under the changes, the maximum combination weight limit for tractors and trailers has increased from 24.39 tonnes to 31 tonnes along with a rise in the speed limit for tractors to 40km/h (approximately 25mph), up from 20mph, saving time and money.
These changes will allow farmers to more appropriately size their tractor to their trailer and maximise the amount of produce transported in each journey. They will therefore result in farmers having to make fewer journeys on our roads and reduce the risk of accidents.
The second phase of changes will see a further consideration of increases in weight and speed limits and a roadworthiness test for some agricultural tractors and trailers by harvest 2016.
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