Sharing our rural roads safely – a message to the public

Rural Crime Week blog, written by policy officer Daniel Toft

The Ulster Farmers’ Union is urging motorists to take extra care when travelling on rural roads and to be mindful of farmers carrying out essential work.

For farm families, rural roads are an essential part of the working environment. Throughout the year, and particularly during busy periods such as silage and harvest, farmers and contractors need to move tractors, trailers and other machinery between fields, farms and yards. This means that agricultural vehicles will regularly share the road with cars, motorcycles, cyclists, and pedestrians.

The UFU wants to remind the public that a little patience and understanding can make a major difference.

One of the greatest risks arises when motorists become frustrated behind slower-moving agricultural machinery and attempt to overtake without enough space or visibility. A tractor may only be travelling a short distance to the next field, but an unsafe overtaking manoeuvre can have serious consequences.

Motorists should leave plenty of room when following tractors and other large vehicles. Sitting too closely behind restricts your own view of the road ahead and can also make it harder for the tractor driver to see you in their mirrors.

Particular care is needed when agricultural vehicles are preparing to turn. A tractor may be slowing down to enter a field gateway which is difficult to see from behind. Larger tractors, trailers and implements may also need to move towards the centre of the road before completing a turn. That movement should never be interpreted as an invitation to overtake, and if you are unsure what the vehicle in front is about to do, wait.

Rural road safety also goes beyond tractors. Farmers frequently need to move livestock along or across public roads. If you encounter cattle or sheep, slow down and be prepared to stop. Give the farmer time and space to move the animals safely and avoid sounding horns or revving engines, which can frighten livestock and make the situation more dangerous.

Road safety remains a serious issue across Northern Ireland. In 2025, there were 5,015 injury road traffic collisions, with 56 people killed and 1,122 killed or seriously injured. Inattention or diverted attention was the most common principal causation factor among those killed or seriously injured, while excessive speed was a factor in around one in five fatal collisions. NFU Mutual research has also highlighted driver impatience as a major concern on rural roads, as in a survey of 2,000 motorists, 47% identified impatience as one of their main concerns, while more than a third highlighted agricultural vehicles or other slow-moving traffic.

The UFU recognises that farmers have responsibilities too. Agricultural vehicles should be properly maintained, lights and indicators should be kept clean and visible, and drivers should indicate clearly before turning. Where it is safe and practical to do so, farmers should also allow built-up traffic to pass. The UFU issues comprehensive guidance to members on the use of agricultural vehicles on the public road, which is available upon request.

But the message to the public during Rural Crime Week is straightforward: Slow down. Leave space. Be patient. Do not overtake unless you are certain it is safe.

Farmers are not using rural roads unnecessarily. They are moving between fields and farms to carry out essential work. A few extra minutes behind a tractor is a small price to pay for keeping farmers, motorists and everyone else using Northern Ireland’s rural roads safe.