Third party insurance advised for all tractors

FARMERS have been advised by a leading insurance representative that third party cover is necessary on a tractor, even if the vehicle is not used on the public road.

Richard Lanigan, FBD Insurance, told a meeting of Limerick IFA County Executive at Adare that a farm is a 'public place', and therefore it is essential for farmer protection that third party insurance cover is maintained on tractors used in the farm.

"Any place where the public are likely to go or to be is a public place. People can enter a farm for different reasons and are entitled to be there. That means that tractors used on the farm should be covered by insurance", he told the farmers.

He said that many farmers may not be aware of this and many may be of the view that it is not necessary to hold insurance cover on a tractor if it is used within the farm. He advised that they review their insurance cover.

He pointed out that motor cars too must be properly insured for farm usage. "A farmer may not know that a car insured for social, domestic and pleasure, is not covered for agricultural use, unless it is stated on the policy," he advised.

Mr Lanigan said that another issue has arisen in relation to young drivers of cars, drawing trailers. For example, many farmers' sons may be unaware that they are not covered by insurance. "Young farmers who do a driving test and receive a 'B' licence are not covered to draw a trailer. To draw a trailer, they require an E+B driving licence. Unless they are licensed to draw a trailer, they do not have insurance cover", he warned. Holders of a "B" Driving Licence can have the licence upgraded to an "E+B" licence, but they must undergo a further driving test before the upgrade will be granted by the Local Authority.