Police operation in South West educates drivers on how to pass horses safely
The operation took place on Friday 21st November in and around Bampton in Devon
Police forces in the South West joined forces with horse riders and safety organisations to educate drivers on how to pass horses safely on the road.
The operation took place on Friday 21st November in and around Bampton in Devon, and involved officers from Devon and Cornwall Police alongside the British Horse Society and mounted Officers from Avon & Somerset Police riding horses in plain clothes.
Devon and Cornwall Police say this allowed them to identify any drivers passing horses too closely or too quickly.
According to data from the British Horse Society, 3,118 road incidents involving horses were recorded in 2024, resulting in 97 horses being injured and 58 losing their lives.
The British Horse Society says 81 percent of these incidents were due to drivers passing horses either too closely or too quickly.
During the operation, the team identified several drivers who passed the horses too quickly or without allowing enough space.
The team also identified a motorist using a mobile phone whilst driving.
The information was then passed on to teams from Devon & Cornwall Police, who then intercepted vehicles.
Officers issued "words of advice" advice to several drivers and said many drivers seemed to be unaware of the correct way to pass horse riders on the road, with many drivers incorrectly believing they had done so safely.
Rural Affairs officer PC Lucy Wyatt leads on equine crime in Devon and Cornwall and was responsible for organising the operation. She said “I grew up riding horses and have experienced, first-hand, how dangerous it can be when motorists pass too fast or too close.
“We have to remember that horses are animals with their own brains, and they can become spooked if a vehicle passes at an inappropriate speed or distance, and this can have devastating consequences for everyone involved.”
During the operation, the team identified several drivers who passed the horses too quickly or without allowing enough space. The team also identified a motorist using a mobile phone whilst driving.
“When approaching horses and riders on the road, drivers should slow down to no more than ten miles per hour, avoid revving their engine or honking their horn and then pass slowly when safe to do so, allowing least two meters of space between the horse and vehicle.”
PC Wyatt recommends that horse riders wear hi-visibility and reflective clothing and stay alert to their surroundings.
She also recommended that riders use clear hand signals to indicate their intentions and be courteous and polite to all other roads users.
PC Wyatt added, “This is the first of many collaborative operations we’ll be carrying out. I hope that our actions have helped to educate drivers about the importance of passing horses safely and provided reassurance to horse riders that we are committed to reducing the number of people – and animals – killed or seriously injured on our roads.
“Everyone has a right to use the road. Let's look out for one another and make sure everyone gets home safely.”