Road traffic accidents and horse riders

21/03/2018
Author: Neil Seddon

The British Horse Society (BHS) has welcomed a drop in the number of road traffic accidents involving riders and their horses on Britain’s roads.

Between 2017 and 2018 there were 5% fewer incidents than in 2016 to 2017- 404 compared to 426 the previous year. Despite the good news, however, more than a quarter those who reported incidents suffered some form of road rage or abuse.

The main reason behind the figures is that cars drive too fast and/or too close to horses. The situation has not been helped by the reduction in the number of bridleways as a result of losing their official public status and being lost to developers.

BHS is working with a number of road safety partners, including mounted police, the Driving Instructors Association and charity, IAM RoadSmart on its Dead Slow campaign, which was launched in 2016 urging drivers to reduce speeds to 15mph when they encounter a horse and rider on a road.

Millions of people up and down the country ride horses, so it isn’t surprising that equestrian accidents are so frequent. Horse riding accidents can be extremely serious, causing life changing injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries and, unfortunately, can be fatal for both horse and rider.