16 year old and driving on the road

[Hfd Cattle]

It’s surprising how many younger lads you see driving tractors with their girlfriends riding shotgun!
Doubt they would be insured even off road as not employee’s or training?

She might be training him in certain things !

 

[Simon Chiles]

When are they going to stop this stupid tractor test at 16. A few years ago a bunch of them starting using tractors to go to the pub!
I remember a friend of mine doing it, the test is so easy that when he had to negotiate and urban area roundabouts, traffic lights etc etc he had no idea what was going on and caused chaos !

There’s no need to change the law to stop that, it’s already illegal. Going to the pub in a vehicle taxed as an agricultural machine and running on cherry is called evasion of duty and can carry a maximum of 14 years imprisonment. Assuming that the vast majority of 16 year olds wouldn’t own a tractor, I personally think that whoever lent them one was just as culpable.

 

[steveR]

or a 3 yr olds
...strapped in a baby/toddler car seat behind the main seat.

...was less worry at that age, ..knowing where they were to.

Big old Zetor cab with the massive padded internal mudguards was perfect for a child seat or passenger. (or 2) Saw a whole family clamber out of one in Ireland

 

[Christoph1945]

When are they going to stop this stupid tractor test at 16. A few years ago a bunch of them starting using tractors to go to the pub!
I remember a friend of mine doing it, the test is so easy that when he had to negotiate and urban area roundabouts, traffic lights etc etc he had no idea what was going on and caused chaos !

Some car and lorry drivers do likewise; have you not noticed?

 

[Skintagain]

Wish I was 18 again with a bird at side of me on tractor.

But i didn’t do it when I was 18 cause I couldn’t put up with them through day.........what an idiot I was

 

[Christoph1945]

Wish I was 18 again with a bird at side of me on tractor.

But i didn’t do it when I was 18 cause I couldn’t put up with them through day.........what an idiot I was

Oh; how many if I only knew then what I know now do so many of us lament!

 

[Celt83]

Wish I was 18 again with a bird at side of me on tractor.

But i didn’t do it when I was 18 cause I couldn’t put up with them through day.........what an idiot I was

You missed out big time!

Nothing like doing 50k and aiming for potholes just to see if something would jiggle or wobble! Great fun!

 

[Clive]

I would have thought with the "operators" you employ there would be no need for an "instructors " seat.


But then fendt call their mowers slicers, their tedders twisters nothing fails to surprise me!
Surprised they didn't call the foragers "slicers" and the tractors "brum brums"

always a need for training- new machines need new skills


noone ever stops learning

 

[Clive]

You can drive a car at 16 here

I see Millennial Farmers 10 year old is driving the chaser bin this year - not on the road mind.

Tempted to say if its back roads and not too far, do a load with him and see if he can do it.
Outrageous I know, but is it any different than a qualified driver running 50K (20mph limit if over 2.55m) or being overloaded etc?

my oldest is 10 - the idea of him on a chaser bin would be terrifying!

 

[Exfarmer]

my oldest is 10 - the idea of him on a chaser bin would be terrifying!

I know of a younger child who is pushing up grain in the store, I was horrified and I believe his mother was too. Will say no more.

 

[Skintagain]

A lot does depend on the individual. I was very very handy by 10 but my cousins were absolutely useless and still are at 30. I was much safer at 10 than they will ever be behind the wheel

 

[kiwi pom]

my oldest is 10 - the idea of him on a chaser bin would be terrifying!

I was hopeless at 10 (no different now probably) didn't drive a tractor until I was 13. Zach's lad seems pretty clued in though, was carting corn off the new X9 in the dark on the latest video. Knows his limits, if he can't do something he gets on the radio.
Think he races those buggy things as well.

 

[Clive]

I was hopeless at 10 (no different now probably) didn't drive a tractor until I was 13. Zach's lad seems pretty clued in though, was carting corn off the new X9 in the dark on the latest video. Knows his limits, if he can't do something he gets on the radio.
Think he races those buggy things as well.

thought I was invincible aged 16-21 ........ frankly a small miracle i’m still alive. Sadly some equally “invincible” friends are not

 

[Drillman]

it always amazes me the difference between keen farm kids and townie kids are from a driving experience perspective.

even at a young age.

got my 8 year old a petrol off road buggy a bit back, he’s got it sussed, donuts opposite lock power slides the lot. Neighbour called in with her girls 10 and 7 year old they were doing the same in no time.

then one day had my niece and nephew here. ( townie kids) They managed to stutter round in slow laps.

 

[davidroberts30]

it always amazes me the difference between keen farm kids and townie kids are from a driving experience perspective.

even at a young age.

got my 8 year old a petrol off road buggy a bit back, he’s got it sussed, donuts opposite lock power slides the lot. Neighbour called in with her girls 10 and 7 year old they were doing the same in no time.

then one day had my niece and nephew here. ( townie kids) They managed to stutter round in slow laps.

Townies didnt get to move a heap of sand with a pedal tractor when they kids

 

[fermerboy]

I was hopeless at 10 (no different now probably) didn't drive a tractor until I was 13. Zach's lad seems pretty clued in though, was carting corn off the new X9 in the dark on the latest video. Knows his limits, if he can't do something he gets on the radio.
Think he races those buggy things as well.

Farming Fixing Fabricating channel on YouTube,and the guys son is 9yrs old and hes been running a chisel plow about 20 ft odd behind a 300hp odd JD all spring, and running rakes and mergers at silage and I see him carting silage a bit too.
Saw him drive up the road with a full dualed up tractor too in one video!!
No criticism of the kid, he seems a good hand, but are there rules in USA??

 

[Christoph1945]

thought I was invincible aged 16-21 ........ frankly a small miracle i’m still alive. Sadly some equally “invincible” friends are not

 

[yellow belly]

Sitting on the tool box in the day
or sitting on the buddy /training seat and seeing how it’s done for long enough while young enough to learn
then doing it with instruction for a season

 

[kiwi pom]

Farming Fixing Fabricating channel on YouTube,and the guys son is 9yrs old and hes been running a chisel plow about 20 ft odd behind a 300hp odd JD all spring, and running rakes and mergers at silage and I see him carting silage a bit too.
Saw him drive up the road with a full dualed up tractor too in one video!!
No criticism of the kid, he seems a good hand, but are there rules in USA??

Yes I watch Andy too (I lead a sad life) Don't know about the rules I think he's taking a big risk though, he leaves him to it a bit much for my liking.
His daughters drive gear too, his oldest could drive the chopper when she was 15.
It shows how much of an advantage farm kids have at being able to do things like that. Town kids working on farms when they leave school are often considered slow and hopeless but its the first time they've seen farm life, let alone worked in it.

 

[Celt83]

thought I was invincible aged 16-21 ........ frankly a small miracle i’m still alive. Sadly some equally “invincible” friends are not

At the age of eight I would break my back all day in the hot sun just to drive the furgie 35 50ft to the gateway!



At the age of 16 I thought I was related to Arton Senna and got myself in a fair few pickles and speed was king.

Now I've only got one thing on my mind....... Fuel economy!