Driving tractor on road in QLD Australia?

[AUSSIE small farmer]

Hi So im 16 and am thinking about doing some slashing work around the local farms for a bit of pocket money, mainly on a bulletproof old Fergie or one of those idiot proof Kubota B series, anyways i was just wondering the laws regarding this and how much sh*t ill be in if i get caught, most of the roads are simple old not busy ones and id be driving practically on the grass with a wheel or 2 on the road near the edge, im wondering if it would be better just to slash the side of the road the whole way there so id have an excuse but thatd take ages and for some reason i think being in 4th gear or high range on the road would be safer.

(P.s. im getting my L's soon )

any opinions/ thoughts welcome
cheers

 

[George2615]

:welcome: to TBN.
I know nothing about your traffic laws but usually a farm tractor can operate on the road when driving from field to field. They require a SMV (slow moving vehicle) triangle on the back. Hopefully one of our other down under members will pop in to answer.

 

[kthompson]

Very possible they have it on their web site, the agency who regulates your driving laws. Would recommend insurance for the travel (you will find auto drivers can be dangerous) and also the work you will be doing. Rough cut mowers can have a blade break and throw a long way or throwing debris doing damage.

Congratulations on planning your business rather than just rushing into it.

 

[daugen]

Always use your four way flashers and my suggestion is turn on every light your tractor has. Lots of examples of
inattentive drivers running into back of tractors on the road. Makes you shake your head, like they can't see a big brightly colored tractor?...
Not sure if drivers texting and paying no attention to the road is a problem where you are, but really is in the States.
Makes no difference if you are fully on the road or partly on, you won't get a lot of respect from many drivers, particularly in a suburban area.
Out in farm country folks are usually more experienced dealing with ag equipment on the road.
If your tractor is older and doesn't have a lot of lights, a rotating LED beacon plugged into the cigarette lighter would increase
your safety. I mow roadsides and I am lit up like a circus wagon.

If you are going to make money using your tractor, smart idea is to get commercial insurance for it.

 

[BHD]

even in the US laws change from state to state, and I have no clue about down under, but look up the laws for agricultural vehicles in your location, unless it federal government regs where you are at,

in the US (most states) as long as the SMV (slow moving vehicle) sign is displayed and flashers on, one can go down most roads, that are not major highways, (interstate, 4 lane roads), I would guess there are exceptions in some cities as well,

 

[AUSSIE small farmer]

so definently going to look into insurance, and a drum slasher/mulcher might be best by the sounds of it

 

[Wagtail]

Well, the QLD Gov will tell you if you are required to licence your tractor... Tassie doesn't as long as you are operating it within 15kms of where it's 'garaged', otherwise you'll need to register and display a plate. If you're setting up a business, then an ABN will be required + the relevant insurance.

As others have noted, you want to be as visible to the other road users as possible = all of your lights and four-ways ON, plus the SMV (reflective orange triangle) displayed. I would highly recommend installing an amber 'whoop-whoop' beacon on the right hand side of the ROPS (Roll Over Protection System). Heck, wearing a flurro vest is a good thing too.

A rear-view mirror, again mounted on the right-hand side, will assist in spotting vehicles coming up behind you.

If you want to go 'all out', specific "Mower in operation" road-side warning signs (or even a few 'cones') can be purchased from various Safety Shops (RSEA, for example).

 

[MHarryE]

Your roads are so different from America you really need answers from somebody like wagtail. Back in the days when I spent a month testing in NSW the typical road was one lane bitumen and you drove one wheel set in the grass when meeting or somebody passing but that never slowed me a bit. We didn’t have to license and sometimes I’d have to road 20 - 30 km between farms. You really need to find out from locals because here you can really get confused.