FARMERS and builders are being urged to clean up after their vehicles, and not leave mud on the roads across Craven this winter.

North Yorkshire County Council says mud left on roads can cause a serious hazard for other road users, such as car drivers, motorcyclists and pedal cyclists.

And, after receiving a number of complaints in the last few weeks, the council is reminding farmers and other vehicle operators who leave mud on roads that they could face a range of offences.

A number of powers are available to the police and the highways authority, mainly under the Highways Act 1980 and the Road Traffic Act 1988.

Councillor Don Mackenzie, the county council’s executive member for highways, said: “Civil action can be taken where mud results in personal injury, damage to property, loss or inconvenience.

"It can constitute a public nuisance and loss or injury can result in a claim for negligence."

He added that the county council, as the highways authority, had a duty to protect the rights of road users.

"Section 149 of the Highways Act 1980 gives the highway authority the power to clean the road and recover the cost from the person causing the obstruction," he said.

Farmers or construction vehicle operators must:

* Keep to their own farm roads whenever possible

* Keep to low speeds and prevent mud from being deposited by removing any excess before driving on to roads

* Be prepared to hire equipment to promptly remove deposits

* Use authorised signs prominently positioned for road users to see

* Clean the road as necessary during the working day and always at the end

* Ensure that equipment and labour is available and is suitable for the soil and weather conditions

* When using a contractor. ensure agreement is reached beforehand on who is responsible for mud on the road (signs, cleaning etc) and that suitable public liability insurance is in place.

The Highways Act 1980 says: “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.”

The Road Traffic Act 1988 covers a vehicle being driven dangerously on a road. Driving dangerously can include using a vehicle in a state that could cause danger to others. Punishment for these offences ranges from fines to imprisonment.

People can report mud on roads by going online to: northyorks.gov.uk/potholes-and-road-condition-issues; or by email in Craven to:Area5.Skipton@northyorks.gov.uk.