MSP And Road Safety Campaigner Tells Drivers To Rein In Speed When Passing Horses

23rd April 2018

Highlands & Islands MSP and road safety campaigner, David Stewart has asked drivers in the rural areas of the Highlands &Islands to rein in their speed and give plenty of room to horses and their riders when passing them.

David said " This is an issue that a lot of motorists forget about. many do not know what to do when passing horses. The facts are simple:

Pass horses and riders safely and save lives- drivers lives, horses lives and riders lives.

“In the seven years from 2010, in the UK there were 38 riders killed in road collisions and 222 horses. Horse riders are entitled to utilise the roads the same as vehicle drivers, pedestrians and cyclists. It is really about showing all road users respect. If you are a pedestrian, cyclists or horse rider, make sure you can be seen by other road users. If you are a vehicle drivers, give all other road users plenty of room when passing. When passing horses, reduce your speed to 15mph,don't sound your horn or rev the engine and do not make sudden movements all of which could startle a horse.

“ If a driver were to pass a horse too fast, sound the horn and startle it for example, they could, if there was sufficient evidence be charged with careless driving.

“ I am aware of some instances in the Black Isle recently, where the situation has arisen that horse riders feel they can no longer take their horses out on the rural roads because of drivers behaviour. Everyone is entitled to use the roads, what we all have to do is educate those that think the road belongs to them that their behaviour has to change ,they have to think, slow down and react when passing a hazard, be that horse riders, cyclists or pedestrians or anything else. What they should also remember is that a horse can weigh up to a ton. Startle it and anything can happen.