A tractor driver has been handed a fine along with three penalty points on his licence, after he was caught using his mobile phone while driving, according to the Banbridge Leader.
The 26-year-old man was reportedly seen carrying out the offence while he was driving a tractor, which was towing an agricultural trailer, on the Northway in Portadown, Co. Armagh on February 13, 2017.
It is believed that a police mobile patrol saw the driver, Hugh John Lavery, holding a mobile phone in his right hand and controlling the steering wheel in his left hand.
Lavery, who is from Derrykeeran Road in Portadown, was pulled over and accepted the offence, the Banbridge Leader reported.
The tractor driver was fined £100 (€115) at Craigavon Magistrates Court for using his mobile phone while driving; he also received three penalty points on his licence.
Lavery was reportedly fined £50 (€57) for not having a number plate on the agricultural trailer that he was towing.
Tractor driving courses
Meanwhile, tractor driving courses will be offered to young people aged between 13-years-old and 15-years-old in Northern Ireland over the coming months.
During the months of July and August, the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) will be offering the courses across a range of campuses.
The three-day course, which costs £150 (€172) to enrol in, will be run at CAFRE’s Greenmount Campus (Antrim), Loughry Campus (Cookstown) and Enniskillen Campus (Enniskillen).
By law, any child between 13-years-old and 15-years-old who wants to drive a tractor engaged in agricultural activities, on private land in Northern Ireland, must successfully complete this course, according to CAFRE.
CAFRE uses a range of modern tractors and equipment for training purposes. The course is focused on the safe operation of a tractor; therefore, previous experience of driving a tractor is required and deemed advantageous.
You can find out more about how to enrol in this course by visiting CAFRE’s website.
