HORSE owners and riders from the Culcheth area of Warrington will be riding through the village on Sunday, September 15 to raise awareness of the need for motorists to observe the Highway Code when passing horses.
Last year, 3,383 road accidents involving horses were reported to the British Horse Society, in which 66 horses and three people tragically died.
And in Culcheth alone, horse owners using a local livery stable have observed during the last eight weeks some 70 “near misses” by vehicles travelling too fast and too near to their horses.
The British Horse Society says almost all the accidents reported could have been avoided if Rule 215 of the Highway Code was observed.
This states that when a vehicle passes horse riders it MUST PASS at a maximum of 10mph and give the horse at least 2m space, if possible. They must not rev the engine nor sound the horn.
The Culcheth demonstration is part of a national “Pass Wide and Slow” campaign.
Local organiser Rachel Walmsley said: “All too often, drivers ignore or fail to recognise these mandatory requirements of the Highway Code which, if breached, can result in the driver being
prosecuted, fined, receive penalty points, or even facing imprisonment.
“Not all drivers are the same and many do observe, and respect horses and their riders should they meet on the roads and pass with the respect deserved.
But riders and horse owners hacking on roads in Culcheth all too often experience drivers who, sadly, do not follow or blatantly ignore the Highway Code requirements.
“Horses can then become agitated, lose control and can become a danger to the rider, the horse itself and to the vehicle involved.
“Many riders now wear hat cams to record such occurrences – and often the abuse they receive from impatient drivers”
Riders taking part in the demonstration on September 15 are inviting local people to “come and say hello” and help to work together to make roads safer for all users.
“Vehicles and horses can co-exist on the roads, and a little care and observance can – and does – avoid tragedies.”
