Mud, slurry or other produce on the highway deposited by farm animals and machinery causes inconvenience to the public and brings the industry into disrepute. Above all the safety of road users is put at risk. It is an offence to deposit mud on roads and simple precautions can overcome the danger.
Advice
Preparation and cleaning up
Before any activity is likely to bring mud onto the highway, warning signs should be set up in both directions (see ‘Safety on the highway’ for advice on correct signage). Mud arises from vehicles, equipment, and animals. Remember, signs do not in themselves prevent liability for accidents that occur. Failure to clean the road of mud can result in Cumberland Council’s highways team doing this work and charging for it.
Those responsible for the work or moving cattle must ensure that it is carried out safely and must ensure that the highway is clean afterwards. If deposits on the road are insufficient to warrant immediate cleaning, care must be taken to prevent an accumulation of mud and manure from building up.
Mud on wheels
Excessive quantities of mud and soil must be removed from vehicle wheels before moving onto the highway. Hardened areas through gateways can help to remove mud from the wheels.
Please clean mud from vehicles, as far as is practicable, before taking the vehicle on the road. The fact that cleaning mud from agricultural machinery or vehicles is commercially inconvenient may not be a defence in law.
Soil and water from adjoining fields
Landowners are responsible for mud and water running off fields onto roads and can be required to do work to prevent this happening. Attention beforehand can prevent the problem. Limits on cultivation in terms of direction and proximity to boundaries will reduce the risk, as will paying attention to the direction of ploughing.
Those responsible for moving cattle must ensure that it is carried out safely and must ensure that the highway is clean afterwards. If deposits on the road are insufficient to warrant immediate cleaning, care must be taken to prevent an accumulation of mud and manure from building up.
Safety on the highway
Working on or adjacent to the highway may impair the safety and free movement of vehicles and pedestrians. You should take all reasonable steps to ensure the effects of the works are reduced to a minimum through proper signing and guarding. Farmers and agricultural contractors, when carrying out works within the highway such as hedge cutting, cleaning out ditches, cutting of grass verges etc, should inform Cumberland Council who will give you advice on the appropriate type of signing and the basic requirements for vehicles being used.
In general:
Warning signs
- Erect the necessary warning signs before you start any work that will affect the highway, but make sure you remove them on completion of the work.
- Ensure that all signs placed on the highway are self-supporting and weighed down to prevent them from being blown over.
- Ensure that all signs are clean, for the duration of the works, and put the signs away when the work is finished.
- Put the signs in place well in advance of the work and ensure that they are visible on every approach to the affected areas.
- Only authorised signs should be used. These are available from your local agricultural merchant.
Signs and warning equipment on vehicles
- Vehicles working on the highway must use an amber flashing beacon mounted so that it is always visible to traffic from any direction, whether the vehicle is in operation or stationery.
- Where fitted, keep lights clean and in proper working order and use dipped headlights during the day to help warn other road users.
- To get a clear view of the road and vehicles behind you, fit an effective offside rear-view mirror.
- Work in the direction of traffic only.
- Vehicles should also be fitted with a keep left or keep right at the rear of the vehicle.
Signage for work being carried out on the road
The following warning sign denotes work being carried out on the road. A fixed plate below should indicate the type of work e.g., hedge cutting, grass cutting, weed spraying, men working etc.
Personnel
All personnel should wear reflective high-visibility clothing.