Promoting safer driving behaviour around horses
Road Safety Wales is highlighting the vulnerability of horses and their riders through a campaign which reminds drivers of their responsibilities when sharing road space with equestrian road users.
The campaign posters, aligned to the latest Highway Code, have been made available to all 22 Local Authorities in Wales.
Teresa Ciano, Chair of the partnership said, “Our thanks go to the British Horse Society for providing invaluable data via the incident reporting section of their website. This has helped ensure the roadside advice can be located where most needed, at incident hotspot locations as well as on routes frequently used by the equestrian community.”
It is important that drivers, particularly in more rural areas in Wales, are aware that there are likely to be horses on the road and that they treat them with respect by not driving too fast and giving them plenty of space.
If you are approaching a horse and rider, the first thing to do is reduce your speed to a maximum of 10mph and be prepared to stop.
It is essential that all road users pass slow and wide – whether you’re driving a car, heavy goods vehicle, or riding a motorcycle or a bicycle. Only once you are well past will it be appropriate to gradually build up speed again and continue your journey.
Road Safety Wales is encouraging the ongoing reporting of incidents and collisions in order to expand the knowledge base of equine-related events. Capturing more accurate data on the frequency and severity of incidents will assist in identify trends and can be used to more effectively highlight and address the risk faced by equestrian road users.
Across the UK, 3,383 incidents were reported to the BHS over the course of 2023. The BHS reports that 85% of incidents occurred because a vehicle passed by too quickly or too closely, something that is completely unacceptable and easily avoidable.
Incidents can be reported quickly and easily online, or by using a phone or tablet device via the free BHS Horse i app.
Riders are also encouraged to submit video and photographic evidence relating to driving offences to GoSafe through Operation Snap.