Off You Blog

“Horses don’t pay road tax……….. Horses were here first” – I have heard this being argued a number of times over the years and never ending with an agreement. The truth is both car and horse share the road.

Living in Sussex we are fortunate to be in a gloriously rural location but with that benefit comes the added responsibility of being a vigilant road user, whether driving or riding.

According to British Horse Society figures, there are around 3,000 accidents on the roads each year that involve horses. These figures include a number of fatalities. However, a common misconception is that when a fatality occurs it is only the rider or horse that is killed. In some cases the driver and passengers join them. Imagine a horse weighing up to 100st coming through your windscreen at 30mph………. So what should you do to be safe on our country roads?

Well, Rule 215 of the Highway Code states that drivers should “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”.

In essence a driver just needs to courteous and tolerant of other road users…oh and stick to the speed limits of course!

Horse riders need not feel too smug as they are to blame for a fair proportion of accidents on our roads. Riders should always wear Hi-Vis when riding even in bright daylight as over hanging trees can cast a dappled shadow that acts as perfect camouflage. Tests have shown that drivers gain 3 seconds of reaction time when riders wear Hi-Vis. 3 seconds may not sound like much but remember that in 3 seconds a car travelling at just 30mph could cross the length of a full size dressage arena!

There are many Hi-Vis items on the market now for both horse and rider such as Hi-Vis sheets for the horse, jackets/tabards for the riders, Hi-Vis bits to add to the bridle, tail and martingale, plus hat covers and hat bands– the list is endless and there are new products coming onto the market all the time. However it is a proven fact that Hi-Vis leg-bands are seen first by motorists because they are moving as the horse walks along.

There is no law that states riders must wear any of these items but it is in their own interest to do so and not just because drivers will see them on the road sooner. Riders can also be seen sooner when riding off-road. Research with the MoD showed that aircraft can see a rider in Hi-Vis gear up to half a mile sooner and so they can avoid flying over riders and, in the event that a rider falls from their horse and is injured, wearing Hi-Vis clothing enables the emergency services to see the rider lying in countryside.

Just like drivers, horse riders should refrain from using their mobile phone whilst riding to concentrate fully on the road and please, please, please give the correct hand signals. Drivers are not mind readers.

Drivers; please remember that although horses don’t currently pay road tax they have a right to use the road so please give due consideration – it could be your daughter on that horse.

Horse Riders; you are responsible for your own safety and the safety of your horse so always wear Hi-Vis, don’t ride in the dark or fog, never ride more than two abreast and always be courteous to drivers.

Let’s all just get along safely on the road.