'Too many horses are being killed and injured on the South West's roads'
A council is taking action after almost 70 horses were killed and 442 injured on the South West's roads in the past two years.
The South West of England reports the highest level of incidents involving horses and vehicles in the UK - with most incidents in Devon.
More than half of the incidents were in Devon and this week a motion to Devon County Council by Councillor Rob Hannaford to support the Society's 'Dead Slow' campaign was accepted.
The council voted: "With the documented increase in speeding incidents we support the charity in urging drivers to be very careful when passing horses on the road, and for them to adhere to its Dead Slow campaign messages.
"We join with the BHS to encourage all riders and horse owners to report their incidents to the charity at horseincidents.org.uk
"Furthermore, as Devon's highways authority we will aim to work with horse owners & riders, local communities, District, Town and Parish Councils, charities and others to wherever possible promote this campaign, in tandem with other measures such as better signage, to achieve behavioral change and secure better equine safety for all."
Alan Hiscox, Director of Safety at The British Horse Society said: “Year on year we have witnessed an increase in the number of road incidents involving horses being reported to us.
"With 81% of the incidents reported to us having occurred due to vehicles passing too close it is evident that there is still a great need for better education on how to safely pass horses on the road.
"It is also deeply concerning that close to half of riders were subject to road rage. We all have a right to use the roads and no one should face abuse for exercising this right”
The dead Slow campaign says:
If I see a horse on the road then I will …
- Slow down to a maximum of 15mph
- Be patient – I won’t sound my horn or rev my engine
- Pass the horse wide and slow, (if safe to do so) at least a car’s width if possible
- Drive slowly away
Below is our full interview with The British Horse Society Director of Safety Alan Hiscox: