Drivers in Ireland are being urged to share the road safely with farming machinery as the silage cutting season gets underway.

The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) said it was going to be a busy time on farms and renewed its annual appeal for motorists to be on the lookout for tractors, trailers and other agricultural machinery exiting from fields and farmyards.

The IFA is also asking anyone driving farm machinery, especially on rural roads, to cut back on their speed, not to get distracted and understand that around every corner could be a neighbouring family or friend out for a walk or a cycle.

“This is a very busy time of year for farmers,” said IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Chair, Alice Doyle. “The number of tractors and trailers out using the roads will increase dramatically. I am asking all drivers to be on the lookout for tractors, trailers and other farm machinery on the road. If you are travelling behind farm machinery, please be patient and only overtake when it’s safe to do so.

“Farmers should be aware of traffic building up behind them. It’s important to keep left where possible and safe to do so, to allow other vehicles to pass safely. It’s also important that drivers recognise this, pay extra attention to the road and always be on the lookout for other road users.”