Thousands demand changes to driving test after horse killed

A petition has been launched after a driver ran into a horse-drawn carriage, fatally injuring the horse in the process.

Over 10,000 people have signed a petition demanding that the government make changes to the driving test to ensure that drivers know how to pass a horse (or horse-drawn carriage) safely. The campaign was created after an incident involving a funeral procession for Elizabeth Maureen Morris on February 23rd in Bridgend; the driver of a Renault Scenic crashed into the procession after it overtook the carriage, injuring the groom and leaving the horse with such substantial injuries that it needed to be put down.

The petition itself has been set up by Susan Buck who writes in the petition that, “we riders now wear go pro cameras to record the near misses and accidents. We need protection from ignorant drivers.”

While the petition has surpassed the 10,000 required to trigger an official government response (the total number of signatures stands at over 13,000 currently), similar petitions have failed to bring about change. The Horses & Road Safety Awareness campaign in 2014 demanded that the government create a Think Horse TV commercial as well as a compulsory section in the UK driving test to cover the issue.

The campaign generated over 10,000 signatures and the Coalition government at the time offered the following official response: “We are aware of the dangers irresponsible motorists can cause if they do not drive appropriately around horses; however it is unlikely that practical driving test candidates will encounter a horse during their driving test. Obviously inner-city areas are much less likely to have significant numbers of horses on the road; even in rural areas there is no guarantee that a candidate would encounter a horse during their driving test, which is typically of 35–40 minutes long.”

They went on to state that the Theory Test covers many of the issues raised by the campaign already and that ADIs could help further with the issue through appropriate training. Time will tell if the now-Conservative government will offer a different view on the current petition. In the meantime, it is essential that learners know the rules of the road when dealing with vulnerable road users such as horses and their riders with the Highway Code stating:

Rule 214 When passing animals, drive slowly. Give them plenty of room and be ready to stop. Do not scare animals by sounding your horn, revving your engine or accelerating rapidly once you have passed them. Look out for animals being led, driven or ridden on the road and take extra care. Keep your speed down at bends and on narrow country roads. If a road is blocked by a herd of animals, stop and switch off your engine until they have left the road. Watch out for animals on unfenced roads.

Rule 215 Be particularly careful of horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles especially when overtaking. Always pass wide and slowly. Horse riders are often children, so take extra care and remember riders may ride in double file when escorting a young or inexperienced horse or rider. Look out for horse riders’ and horse drivers’ signals and heed a request to slow down or stop. Take great care and treat all horses as a potential hazard.