Hauliers call for urgent hedge cutting on rural roads

Overgrown roadside hedges are putting lives at risk, blocking road signs, and forcing vehicles into oncoming traffic, truck drivers have warned.

The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) is calling on local authorities across Ireland to urgently tackle overgrown hedgerows that are making rural roads more dangerous than ever.

According to the IRHA, untrimmed roadside vegetation is not only blocking sightlines at busy junctions and obscuring road signs, but also increasing the risk of collisions — especially for larger vehicles like trucks.

Truckers losing mirrors weekly due to overgrowth

IRHA President Ger Hyland has urged councils to cut hedges to a height of at least four metres, taking into account the full size of trucks and trailers.

“When hedges encroach onto the road,” Hyland explained, “truck drivers are often forced to veer across the white line to avoid damage to their vehicles and wing mirrors, creating a dangerous situation for all road users.”

Hyland said some hauliers are paying a heavy price.

“The average medium-sized haulage company is losing two wing mirrors a week, costing €1,000 weekly due to mismanaged roadside vegetation.”

Cyclists and pedestrians at risk too

It’s not just truck drivers affected. The IRHA says cyclists and pedestrians are also being pushed into traffic due to narrowing verges and unmaintained ditches.

Already this year, 19 pedestrians and 8 cyclists have been killed on Irish roads, as of June 19. The hauliers argue that overgrown hedgerows are adding to the danger.

Law not being enforced, claims IRHA

Under Section 70 of the Roads Act 1993, landowners are legally responsible for maintaining roadside hedgerows, but Hyland claims enforcement by local authorities is virtually non-existent.

“We’re not asking for all hedgerows to be destroyed,” Hyland said. “We understand the importance of biodiversity, but road safety must come first.”

While hedge-cutting is generally prohibited from 1 March to 31 August, there is a legal exemption where overgrowth poses a road safety hazard — something the IRHA believes should be used more often.

Three in four HGV drivers face hedge-related challenges

A 2024 Ipsos B&A survey of professional drivers, commissioned by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), found that 75 percent of the 620 HGV drivers surveyed reported roadside hedgerows as a challenge while driving.

The IRHA is urging local councils to engage proactively with landowners, enforce hedge-cutting responsibilities, and prioritise visibility and safety across Ireland’s rural road network.