TRACTOR AND TRAILERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 17, 16 April 1947, Page 7

TRACTOR AND TRAILERS

USE ON PUBLIC ROADS THIRD-PARTY RISKS In a recent statement to Federated Farmers of N.Z., the Transport Department has explained the legal responsibilities of farmers in regard to the use of tractors and trailers. Some farmers have the impression that as they are exempted from payment of registration and annual licence fees because the tractors are used on farms and only to a limited degree on roads, they do not require third-party insurance cover. The Department makes it quite clear that such an impression is wrong.

Although no fees are paid for licensing the vehicles in question, third-party risks must be met to cover the vehicles while they are being used on public roads. There is also the cost of E-plates to be met.

Current annual third-party insurance rates for tractors and trailers are only 3s and 2s respectively. It is, therefore, not an expensive matter to comply with the law which provides a valuable safeguard against claims for personal injuries to third parties.

Under present legislation, farm tractors and trailers while carrying E-plates may, in addition to their use on roads between farms, also be used on roads in connection with the owners’ own farming business for the cartage of milk or whey to or from a dairy factory and for the cartage of lime or other fertiliser etc; There is a limitation of 13 miles’ travel on roads, i.e. 6|- miles each way, for such purposes. If tractors are used on roads r they must also carry a warrant of fitness as must all trailers and tractors capable of speeds in excess of 15 miles per hour.