Driving Safety Guidelines When Encountering Horses On Roadways
In the UK, road safety is a top priority, especially when sharing the road with horses and their riders. According to IAM RoadSmart, a leading road safety charity, driving close to horses requires extra caution and patience.
Jaimi McIlravey, a horse rider and digital content executive at IAM RoadSmart, emphasizes the importance of staying alert when driving near horses. Over the past year, The British Horse Society reported 3,118 incidents involving horses on UK roads, resulting in 80 injuries and the unfortunate loss of 58 horses.
When approaching a horse on the road, IAM RoadSmart advises drivers to expect the unexpected and to keep an eye out for signals from the horse rider. If you see two riders side by side, they might be for safety reasons, so give them some consideration.
The new guidance introduced in the UK's Highway Code in 2022 states that vehicles must pass horses at no more than 10mph and at a minimum distance of two metres. If the rider does not indicate, drivers should maintain at least three car-lengths distance and be prepared to slow down further or stop.
When passing a horse, allow at least a car's width and stick to the 10mph maximum, as stated in the Highway Code. Accelerate gently when passing the horse and when moving away.
On narrow lanes, if there isn't enough room to pass a horse, the rider may decide to trot to the nearest gateway or grass verge. In such cases, drivers should not accelerate to match the trot - stay back.
The British Horse Society outlines four steps to pass a horse safely on the road: slow down, be patient, pass wide and slow, and drive slowly onwards. When approaching a horse, drivers should slow down and hold back, allowing the rider to indicate if it's safe to overtake.
When approaching a horse from the other side of the road, consider using hazard warning lights to alert drivers behind you. On rural roads, take extra care as a horse could be around the next corner.
It's worth noting that, according to available data, there are no specific official statistics publicly reported for the exact number of people injured by horse-related accidents in Germany in 2022 and 2023. However, 81% of the incidents reported in the UK were due to vehicles passing too closely to horses.
Above all, be patient and respectful when passing a horse on the road. By following these guidelines, we can help ensure the safety of both drivers and equestrians on our roads.
