A tractor was impounded by members of An Garda Síochána after being stopped towing a trailer on the M7 motorway last week.

The tractor was halted by Garda members of Naas Road Policing Unit (RPU) in Co. Kildare on Thursday night (February 25) for travelling below the required 50kph minimum speed on the motorway.

It was subsequently discovered that the driver was an unaccompanied learner driver, while neither the tractor nor the trailer were taxed or tested for public road use.

In a tweet on social media platform Twitter, Gardaí explained: “Naas RPU stopped this tractor towing a trailer on the M7 last night.

“It was being driven at 41kph by an unaccompanied learner driver.

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“The tractor was only taxed for agricultural use and the trailer was not licensed or tested.

“The vehicle was impounded and an FCPN [Fixed Charge Penalty Notice] was issued,” the tweet concluded.

Motorway rules

Tractors can be driven on the motorway in the Republic of Ireland, providing that the tractor is capable of reaching a minimum speed of 50kph.

If you are driving your tractor on the motorway and towing a trailer, the trailer must be capable by design of being drawn at a speed of 50kph or higher, according to the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

Since January 1, 2016, both tractors and trailers are required to be fitted with a speed disc indicating their design speed.

To be eligible to drive on the motorway, agricultural vehicles will be required to meet a number of standards in relation to braking, suspension systems, tyres and lighting under the new legislation.

It should also be noted that, regardless of vehicle type, all learner drivers are prohibited from travelling on Irish motorways.