Incidents between vehicles and horses and their riders continues to blight our roads. According to the latest data from 2023, there were 3,383 incidents that resulted in 66 horses being killed while 86 were injured. This also led to 94 people being injured with three killed.

The main cause of such serious and depressing statistics? Simple – 85% of incidents occurred because of a vehicle passing by a horse and rider too closely or too quickly.

Follow the rules

This has led to The British Horse Society creating a new road safety campaign, focusing on the Highway Code’s existing guidance. It offers four rules to stick to when approaching a horse and rider:

10mph

Slow down to a maximum of 10mph.

Be patient

Don’t sound your horn or rev your engine.

Pass wide

Pass the horse wide and slow (if safe to do so), by at least two metres if possible.

Pass slow

Drive away slowly.

Other safety tips

The British Horse Society also recommends that you:

  • Be ready to stop if necessary.
  • Keep your eyes open for hand signals from the rider – such as to slow down – and to always follow their instructions.
  • Be aware if a horse looks nervous – such as moving sideways or – it’s best to stop and turn off your engine until the horse is well away from your car.
  • Slow right down or stop if you come across a horse and rider on a road that is too narrow to pass safely on. In these cases, let the rider find a safe place off the road before you proceed. Alternatively, if they have nowhere to go, considering reversing into a safe space so they can move past you.
  • Keep an eye out for the equestrian road sign (a red-framed triangle with a black graphic of a horse and rider). This is used in areas where they are common so you have plenty of warning.

If we all adopt these simple techniques, we hope that the increase in horse-related incidents will decrease over the coming years. For more information about The British Horse Society’s campaign, head here.

“While we recognise and thank all drivers who continue to follow the Highway Code guidance, there is still work to do, ensuring horses and equestrians are safer when hacking out on the roads. Unfortunately, it isn’t always possible for equestrians to stay off the roads due to the shrinking bridleway network. That is why it’s so important that we all play our part to make sure everyone remains safe.”

• Alan Hiscox, Director of Safety, The British Horse Society

Know Your Code

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Main photo by Danny Gallegos on Unsplash