Mud on the road
Mud on the road resulting from working farm vehicles can be a nuisance and in some cases present real safety concerns.
These factors can make the issue happen more frequently:
- changes in farming (fewer, larger businesses operating vehicles covering greater distances, changes in cropping patterns, more farming contracting work)
- weather patterns with wetter autumns and winters
- More rural road use, with more vehicles travelling further distances at greater speeds
Other spillages on the road
Substances such as liquids, paints, oil or diesel that may have spilled from vehicles or adjacent properties into the road are likely to need clearing by our teams if they have not already been dealt with by the responsible party.
Report mud, debris, or a spillage on the highway
If the issue is an immediate threat to public safety please telephone 0300 1234 222 (24 hour service) giving details of the location.
The law
Farmers and vehicle operators who deposit mud on the road are potentially liable for a range of offences. This guidance is not a complete statement of the law or of your possible liabilities.
Criminal law
A range of powers is available to the police and highways department, primarily under the Highways Act 1980, the Road Traffic Act 1988.
Highways Act 1980 Section 137 “If a person, without lawful authority or excuse, in any way wilfully obstructs the free passage along a highway he is guilty of an offence”.
Highways Act 1980 Section 148 “If without lawful authority or excuse a person deposits anything whatsoever on a highway to the interruption of any user of the highway he is guilty of an offence”.
What you should do
- Be prepared to hire in equipment - check availability in advance.
- Keep to your own farm roads and minor roads whenever possible
- Keep to low speeds - especially when travelling short distance - to help retain mud on the vehicle.
- Be prepared to keep a written record of your decisions on whether or not to deploy signs and / or to clean the road.
What you must do
- Do everything possible to prevent mud being deposited on the road. This includes cleaning mud from vehicles, as far as practicable, before they are taken onto the road. The fact that cleaning mud off tractors and attachments is commercially inconvenient may not be a defence in law.
Only use signs that are authorised. The recommended sign shows the 'Slippery Road’ triangle with ‘Mud on Road’ sub plate. If appropriate, the 'Men at Work’ sign should be used. Signs must be at least 750mm. Signs may be purchased from Greenham Industrial (tel 01392 271770), Parker Merchanting (tel 01392 288900) or Cornwall Council stores (tel 0300 1234 222). Other suppliers may make them to order.- Make sure signs are positioned to give maximum visibility and warning to other road users.
- Clean the road as necessary during the working day and always at the end of the working day.
- Ensure that labour and equipment is available and is suitable for the soil and weather conditions present.
- Where a contractor is used, ensure that prior agreement is reached on who is responsible for mud on road issues (signage, cleaning etc) and ensure that adequate public liability insurance is in place.
Highways Act 1980 Section 161 “If a person, without lawful authority or excuse, deposits anything whatsoever on a highway in consequence of which a user of the highway is injured or endangered, that person is guilty of an offence”.
Furthermore, the Road Traffic Act 1988 covers situations where a mechanically propelled vehicle is driven dangerously on a road. Driving dangerously can include driving a vehicle in a state that could cause danger to others. Punishment for these offences ranges from fines to imprisonment.
Civil action
Civil action can occur where the presence of mud results in personal injury, damage to property, loss or inconvenience. The presence of mud can constitute a public nuisance and loss or injury can result in a claim for negligence.
Health and safety
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, employers have a duty to look after the health and safety, not only of themselves, their family and employees, but of anyone who may be affected by their working operations. Employees also have responsibilities to themselves and others.
Recovery of clean up costs by highways authority
The Council as highway authority, has a duty to assert and protect the rights of road users. Section 149 of the Highways Act 1980 gives the highways authority the power to clean the road and recover its expenses from the person causing the obstruction.
Further information is available in our leaflet The farmer and the highway
Whilst this guidance note is endorsed by Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, Cornwall Council and the National Farmers' Union (NFU) , it is not a definitive guide of responsibility and conduct. Compliance with it will not provide exemption from liability but may be used by enforcement officers as a checklist when visiting the scene of the incident or site of public complaint
Mud on the road resulting from working farm vehicles can be a nuisance and in some cases present real safety concerns.
These factors can make the issue happen more frequently:
Continue reading- changes in farming (fewer, larger businesses operating vehicles covering greater distances, changes in cropping patterns, more farming contracting work)
- weather patterns with wetter autumns and winters
- More rural road use, with more vehicles travelling further distances at greater speeds
Other spillages on the road
Substances such as liquids, paints, oil or diesel that may have spilled from vehicles or adjacent properties into the road are likely to need clearing by our teams if they have not already been dealt with by the responsible party.
Report mud, debris, or a spillage on the highway
If the issue is an immediate threat to public safety please telephone 0300 1234 222 (24 hour service) giving details of the location.
Farmers and vehicle operators who deposit mud on the road are potentially liable for a range of offences. This guidance is not a complete statement of the law or of your possible liabilities.
A range of powers is available to the police and highways department, primarily under the Highways Act 1980, the Road Traffic Act 1988.
Highways Act 1980 Section 137 “If a person, without lawful authority or excuse, in any way wilfully obstructs the free passage along a highway he is guilty of an offence”.
Highways Act 1980 Section 148 “If without lawful authority or excuse a person deposits anything whatsoever on a highway to the interruption of any user of the highway he is guilty of an offence”.
- Be prepared to hire in equipment - check availability in advance.
- Keep to your own farm roads and minor roads whenever possible
- Keep to low speeds - especially when travelling short distance - to help retain mud on the vehicle.
- Be prepared to keep a written record of your decisions on whether or not to deploy signs and / or to clean the road.
- Do everything possible to prevent mud being deposited on the road. This includes cleaning mud from vehicles, as far as practicable, before they are taken onto the road. The fact that cleaning mud off tractors and attachments is commercially inconvenient may not be a defence in law.
- Only use signs that are authorised. The recommended sign shows the 'Slippery Road’ triangle with ‘Mud on Road’ sub plate. If appropriate, the 'Men at Work’ sign should be used. Signs must be at least 750mm. Signs may be purchased from Greenham Industrial (tel 01392 271770), Parker Merchanting (tel 01392 288900) or Cornwall Council stores (tel 0300 1234 222). Other suppliers may make them to order.
- Make sure signs are positioned to give maximum visibility and warning to other road users.
- Clean the road as necessary during the working day and always at the end of the working day.
- Ensure that labour and equipment is available and is suitable for the soil and weather conditions present.
- Where a contractor is used, ensure that prior agreement is reached on who is responsible for mud on road issues (signage, cleaning etc) and ensure that adequate public liability insurance is in place.
Highways Act 1980 Section 161 “If a person, without lawful authority or excuse, deposits anything whatsoever on a highway in consequence of which a user of the highway is injured or endangered, that person is guilty of an offence”.
Furthermore, the Road Traffic Act 1988 covers situations where a mechanically propelled vehicle is driven dangerously on a road. Driving dangerously can include driving a vehicle in a state that could cause danger to others. Punishment for these offences ranges from fines to imprisonment.
Civil action can occur where the presence of mud results in personal injury, damage to property, loss or inconvenience. The presence of mud can constitute a public nuisance and loss or injury can result in a claim for negligence.
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, employers have a duty to look after the health and safety, not only of themselves, their family and employees, but of anyone who may be affected by their working operations. Employees also have responsibilities to themselves and others.
The Council as highway authority, has a duty to assert and protect the rights of road users. Section 149 of the Highways Act 1980 gives the highways authority the power to clean the road and recover its expenses from the person causing the obstruction.
Further information is available in our leaflet The farmer and the highway
Whilst this guidance note is endorsed by Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, Cornwall Council and the National Farmers' Union (NFU) , it is not a definitive guide of responsibility and conduct. Compliance with it will not provide exemption from liability but may be used by enforcement officers as a checklist when visiting the scene of the incident or site of public complaint