Wide and slow appeal from Ross-shire horse lovers in traffic safety bid
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EQUINE enthusiasts on the Black Isle have been taking part in a national campaign raising awareness with the motoring public about the need to give horses and their riders more consideration when passing them on country lanes.
Lindsay Ross and Suzanne Gowdy regularly use the Cullicudden Straight on the B9163 to get from their stable to popular areas of the countryside where they go riding.
The Pass Wide and Slow campaign is aimed at educating drivers about how to safely approach horses they may encounter on the road.
"We keep our horses at Suzanne's yard Kinbeachie and we have to use the Cullicudden straight to get to the places we go riding," said Lindsay.
"There were 67 rides throughout the country promoting the campaign at the weekend which is effectively to educate drivers about how to safely approach and passes horses and riders when they encounter.
"It is recommended they should not pass them at more than 15mph and give them a wide berth of at least two metres.
"We have had drivers pass us at 60mph then they stop and give us abuse. I think a lot of drivers just don't realise we don't want to be on these roads but riders often have to use them to get access to the areas they are going riding."
Lindsay said there was also a danger that local drivers who are familiar with horses and riders on certain routes drop their guard because they 'know' the horses.
"It's important to be aware that there is always a risk when passing horses even if you think you know them and their riders.
"Horses are very unpredictable and it's not only traffic that can spook them.
"A bird simply moving in a hedgerow can cause a horse to react and that is why drivers should be aware at all times."
The British Horse Society has reported 2,900 incidents between 2010 and 2018 and 230 horses and 39 riders have died as a result of accidents with cars.
The BHS stress that not all horse riders have the luxury of off road tracks or access to farmer’s fields.
"Horse riders do not take lightly to going on the roads and do try and make themselves safe by wearing high-vis for maximum visibility and head cameras to support any incidents when reporting to police.
"Horse riders also ensure their horses are accustomed to traffic as best they can, but unfortunately it can take just one dangerous manoeuvre by a driver to spook a horse," say the BHS.
The Highway Code section 215 states: “Horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles. 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; they can be unpredictable, despite the efforts of their rider/driver."
