11
All unprotected rotating machine parts increase the risk of accidents. Accidents usually occur when
loose-fitting clothing or long hair is caught and wrapped around rotating parts, such as PTO shafts
or drive shafts on the machine. Ensure that all guards are correctly fitted.
Drive safely on public roads
•
Always follow traffic safety rules on public roads, and following the regulations applying to
driving a tractor with towed equipment on a public road.
•
Check that reflectors, warning signals and/or warning flags indicating protruding equipment
are fitted to the machine or tractor. These indicators must be correctly mounted, and must be
visible and easy for drivers of other vehicles to see.
•
Observers must not lean against or climb onto the machine during transport or during work.
NEVER allow anyone to travel on the machine!
•
The maximum transportation speed must not exceed 20 km/h
•
Brake regulations: If the gross weight of the trailer exceeds the gross weight of the towing
vehicle, the trailer must be equipped with a brake. For further information, contact the traffic
authorities.
•
IMPORTANT! Mark protruding equipment clearly with additional lights or suitable reflectors.
It is important that the equipment is visible! If you are driving on a public road, any load or
equipment protruding in front of or behind the tractor must be marked. In darkness, at dusk
or dawn or in weather with poor visibility, the load must be marked with a white reflector and
lantern at the front and a red reflector and lantern at the rear. In daylight you can mark the
load with a flag or a piece of fabric in colours which are easy to notice, such as red and yellow.
•
Think about front-loaded equipment. As well as marking front-loaded equipment clearly, you
can also try to make front-loaded equipment such as a bucket, bale spike or pallet forks less
aggressive if another driver should collide with it.
•
Before going out onto public roads, it is also always advisable to look over your vehicle and
check that the brake system on the following vehicle is working, and that your tow bar eyes
are not too worn. A worn-out towing eye can break if subjected to a heavy load, and you can
lose the cart.
•
It is also advisable to check that the SMV sign is clearly visible from behind. If it is obscured by
any equipment or load behind, you must hang an additional one at the rear of the vehicle train.