The British Horse Society (BHS) is marking ten years of road safety education and campaigning to make sure all road users are aware of what to do when they encounter horses on the road.
As part of its anniversary Dead Slow campaign, the BHS is reflecting on a decade of ‘alarming statistics’.
In the last 10 years, nearly 20,000 road incidents involving horses have been recorded by the BHS. Eight people have been killed along with 556 horses – that’s almost sixty horses a year.
The aim of the campaign is to encourage more road users to evaluate how they pass horses as well as how dangerous passing them too closely and too quickly can be.
The key behavioural change messages to drivers in the campaign are:
- Slow down to a maximum of 10mph
- Be patient – do not sound the horn or rev the engine
- Pass the horse wide and slow (if safe to do so)
- Drive slowly away
Additionally, the BHS is calling for the government to invest more into a campaign that will generate greater awareness of the Highway Code guidance in place for passing equestrians passing horses at no more than 10mph and leaving at least two metres distance.
The BHS says the campaign talks to all road users about the devastating impact driving carelessly past horses can have, and highlights how simple changes to driving habits can make a huge difference.
A campaign toolkit is available for local authorities looking to share the Dead Slow messaging their areas.
Comment on this story