Why can’t tractor drivers pull over on the road?

[Cowabunga]

On my seven mile journey back from the other place, there is only one lay-by long enough to take a tractor and trailer, and that is half a mile from where I turn off for home. If driving a fast tractor, i drive past it. If in a slower tractor and knowing there are cars that were behind me for more than the three miles since I joined the A road, then I pull in.
My judgement prevails even if people behind are frustrated for the half mile before I leave the road for my lane.

 

[Cowabunga]

I go ten miles to a farm for straw, there's about ten places to pull in on the way there and not one coming back with the load on. After I turned off the main road one day a cop pulled me in and bollocked me for not pulling over. I asked him where the pull ins were I was supposed to have used. He shouted in my face that there were plenty so I went to get in his car and said take me back and show me where because I have another five loads to do. He thought about it some more and grudgingly apologised

Same happened to me once when the lady police pulled me in to the one layby half a mile from home. I said I was going to pull in there anyway and she said "no you weren’t". I asked where she learned to read minds and where was i meant to pull in in the three miles she had been following me. She couldn’t answer. She was quite officious until I eventually calmly but firmly told her "either charge me with something or bugger off". At which point she lightened up and was quite pleasant before saying goodbye.

 

[lloyd]

I have just driven between Burford and Lechlade, behind a John Deere tractor and bale trailer. Despite the driver passing numerous places where he could’ve pulled over he just drove past obliviously. People like this really do not help our industry! It is all too easy to forget that other people are also at work, and not just us. I understand that when we are on the road on tractors it gets irritating when people will not overtake you, but if you get two or three nervous driver stuck behind you that will not overtake you will soon create a huge queue. Let’s keep the general public on side and pull over.

I think you missed the word 'some' in the start of your thread after why cant .
Also I take it you are equally aggrieved by cars and caravans ,slow moving lorries
and horse riders or is it just farmers?
Edit.
I left out cyclists as it seems to be a popular pastime
for the gentleman farmer brigade.

 

[melted welly]

Most vehicles I've counted behind me once I've pulled in was 361.it takes a little while for that many to pass.

what were you driving? a hearse?!

 

[neilo]

Know that stretch very well.......not that many pull in places for a long vehicle, but plenty of straight bits with good visibility to overtake! (It wasn't me)

In fairness, if you can't get past a tractor on that road you either need to stop driving, or get a better car...

I was thinking just the same when I read the OP.

 

[melted welly]

worst i had was when i worked in Norfolk. Moving an old JCB 535-67 miles back to the yard. I was only 18 and quite nervous about upsetting people, so pulled over a lot, it was a bank holiday or something and the roads were awfully busy. Anyway, Id just pulled back on to the carriageway when i spied 2 motorhomes coming along behind, it took them forever to catch up and when they eventually did, i pulled in at first opportunity. Well these chaps must've been doing about 28mph, they both waved cheerily as they went past to say thanks, the hundred or so cars, vans, lorries and couple of tractors behind THEM weren't so nice, a few actually stopped to have a proper go at me.

 

[Pistonbroke]

With my old 30k maxxum I hardly held up anyone because it was easy to get past. 53k valtra I get bigger queues because if the first thing behind is an artic he hasn't got the beans to get by and back in

 

[Robt]

Same happened to me once when the lady police pulled me in to the one layby half a mile from home. I said I was going to pull in there anyway and she said "no you weren’t". I asked where she learned to read minds and where was i meant to pull in in the three miles she had been following me. She couldn’t answer. She was quite officious until I eventually calmly but firmly told her "either charge me with something or bugger off". At which point she lightened up and was quite pleasant before saying goodbye.

with charm like that, surprised you didnt at least boff her sister!

 

[Robt]

With my old 30k maxxum I hardly held up anyone because it was easy to get past. 53k valtra I get bigger queues because if the first thing behind is an artic he hasn't got the beans to get by and back in

i find if thats the case, on the next clear straight, drop to 10k and let him past. Thats as good as stopping.

 

[Optimus]

what were you driving? a hearse?!

[emoji23] [emoji23] no 57k valtra.was height of summer on the A9 which is horrendous heading north.

Also been 3 wide with 2 artics.that was an experience!

 

[Northdowns Martin]

When I pull over for vehicles I’m surprised how many will wave or toot as they pass. Mainly it’s lorries, very rarely a delivery van.

 

[jondear]

Laybys with food wagons in them, cars parked right in the middle, some are just too small. Even if you slow down to a crawl in the road some drivers just won't pass!

If you pull in they just usually turn left or right most of the time!
Or you slow to a safe place to pass they won't overtake .!If they do that .Well they can stay there!

 

[traadilooar]

Do you ever sit there whilst letting people past and think, where are all these asshats going!!

 

[AT Aloss]

When we were carting harvest this year, one of the lads said to me a Mercedes A Class AMG followed him for about 12 miles on the A46. Almost all the traffic behind that car was held up to some extent. There weren't any lay-bys, our tractor slowed down, indicated numerous times and short of just stopping in the road or turning off it & re-joining it this car just wouldn't pass despite being overtaken by numerous vehicles. There are long stretches on that road where everything else was able to pass easily enough. At times we aren't blameless, but the tail-gaters who don't give themselves enough room or have so little confidence behind the wheel to see past a slow moving vehicle, are an absolute menace to other road users in our locality.

 

[Willie adie]

I hate having cars sat behind me on the 20 mile trip between the two farms there aren't too many places to stop, but I know of ignorant f**kers who openly admit they don't and won't pull over, even if able to, it as said it just needs one person to sit behind you and it causes a huge tailback

 

[Selectamatic]

I’m one of these barstewards. I only pull over for fire engines or ambulances.

I used to pull over whenever I could, but the amount of ungrateful v signs, horn honking and the like put me off the idea.

sod ‘em, they can wait.

 

[Bomb]

I’m one of these barstewards. I only pull over for fire engines or ambulances.

I used to pull over whenever I could, but the amount of ungrateful v signs, horn honking and the like put me off the idea.

sod ‘em, they can wait.

I agree there are some ignorant people out there on the road! But you can’t educate pork. However there are many decent people trying to get about their day-to-day business and it is not fair to make them wait.

 

[Bomb]

Do you ever sit there whilst letting people past and think, where are all these asshats going!!

Yes! A lot of them will be heading to the shops to spend money on the food we produce let’s get out of their way, and let them go spend spend spend

 

[Celt83]

What about old biddies!

I was stuck behind a pair of them last week with the tractor and trailer and they would speed up enough on the straights just to keep me behind and slow down to what felt like a crawl in the winedy bits!

I saw at least 10 cars behind so I pulled over for someone else to have a crack at overtaking them, and what did I get from the last 5-6 cars! The bird, a nice wrist action sign and all of them mouthing eff off!! That's gratitude for you! And not even my fault!

 

[Celt83]

Most vehicles I've counted behind me once I've pulled in was 361.it takes a little while for that many to pass.

I think we have a winner!!!!

That's some gauntlet you've just thrown down Optimus for the TFF Olympics!