Farmers warned about leaving mud on roads
After a spate of accidents, farmers in Herefordshire are being warned they will be prosecuted if they leave mud on the roads.
West Mercia Police said it would not hesitate to take legal action after dealing with numerous dangerous situations caused by mud being left on the county’s roads.
Officers have been patrolling roads on the lookout for farm vehicles dropping mud after the force received dozens of calls and three A-roads had to be closed.
Police are investigating whether dangerous road conditions led to three collisions that occurred in the county, one of which has caused serious injuries.
In one incident, a army Land Rover and a Fiat Punto collided on the A465 between Didley and Wormbridge, leaving the woman soldier driving the Land Rover with serious neck injuries and the Punto driver with a broken leg.
A car was involved in a minor collision on the A417 at Burley Gate forcing the closure of the road for more than three hours while Highways Agency officers cleaned dangerous amounts of mud from the road.
The road was so dangerous that a tractor lost grip while driving along the road and officers at the scene found it dangerous to walk.
Meanwhile, a car ended up on its roof in Clehonger as a mother drove her children to school, although none of them was hurt.
Chief inspector Adam Thomas said: “Every autumn, we face problems with farm vehicles leaving large amounts of mud on the roads during the autumn harvest as they move crops such as sugar beet, potatoes and hops.
“While some farmers take steps to make sure they keep the roads clear and safe, not all are as diligent.
“Therefore we are taking a tough stance on the issue. Response officers are patrolling looking for problems and they will not hesitate in taking action against anyone they believe is being irresponsible and reckless.”
Benjamin Ellis, NFU regulatory affairs adviser, said: “A certain amount of mud going on the road is inevitable after the season we have had.
“But it’s important that farmers do not leave mud on the roads that can be a hazard to others drivers.”
Mud on the road: what should farmers do?
• Be prepared to hire equipment – check availability in advance
• Keep to your own farm roads and minor roads where possible
• Put signs out to alert other drivers of the potential for mud on the road
• Keep to low speeds – especially when travelling a short distance – to help retain mud on the vehicle
• Keep a written record of your decisions on whether or not to deploy signs and/or to clean the road
Philip Case on G+
See our farm health and safety page
