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HORSE Magazine



Features : Road safety

Road safety

Monday 8 September 2008

Jane Carley

The statistics are worrying. Every day, there are eight horse-related accidents on Britain's roads, and on average five riders are killed
in accidents each year.

British Horse Society figures for 2007 show that there were 107 accidents reported to it, up from 89 in 2006. Although no riders were killed last year, 45 were seriously injured, while 16 horses died or were destroyed and 35 injured. The majority of accidents took place on minor roads in supposedly quiet rural areas.

Reporting incidents

As accidents are only investigated by police
if there is a human injury, the actual picture could be much worse. Statistics on the number of successful prosecutions of drivers involved in accidents are even harder to come by.

“A horse can be killed or a vehicle written off and the accident can go unreported. It is vital that any equestrian road-related accident you become aware of is reported direct to the BHS even if you do not have the full information. It is better to hear several times of a single incident, than not to hear at all,” says a BHS spokesman.

Sue Webster, who has worked to raise awareness of road safety issues among both riders and drivers in Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, points out that it is worth reporting 'near misses', involving dangerous or careless driving, to the police.

“If a car has sped past too close, or squeezed by you in a narrow lane, make a note of the vehicle details and contact the local police. If they get sufficient complaints they will investigate,” she says.

Safety first

All riders can improve their chances of staying safe on the roads. Learning correct techniques for riding on the road is vital, which is why riders should train for and take their Riding and Road Safety Test.

Riders should stay alert and concentrate on the road – avoid chatting to others and never use your mobile phone while riding. Acknowledging drivers who slow down, with at least a smile and a nod, along with giving clear and accurate signals, is vital to maintain the goodwill of other road users.

Staying on the left hand side of the road is safest and when leading a horse, whether on foot or mounted, he should be kept on your left-hand side. Planning your ride is also essential – try to avoid busy times of day or known commuter 'rat runs', and stay off the roads in ice, snow or fog.

Think carefully about whether your horse is safe to take onto the road – nervous or young horses should always have a steady companion. You can ride two abreast to put the less experienced horse on the inside, but you will need to go in single file along narrow or twisty stretches. If in a group, stay together when crossing a junction.

High visibility (hi-vis) clothing is acknowledged as one of the most effective ways of preventing accidents – the BHS recommends that a tabard on the rider and leg bands on the horse are worn as a bare minimum.


For our full report on road safety, plus unmissable advice on how to stay safer on the roads, buy the October issue of Horse, on sale from 11 September. There's also a great reader offer – 15% off hi-vis safety gear from Derby House, plus how to get a free copy of the BHS Riding and Roadcraft manual