Neigh need to speed around horses, urges Road Safety Forum

With the advent of better weather and the potential for folks to be out and about more enjoying the longer nights, the local Road Safety Forum is reminding drivers to go wide and slow when they’re passing horses and their riders.  

The Highway Code was updated three years ago to stipulate how horses and horse drawn vehicles should be passed by motorists – specifically, with at least two metres of space, and at no more than 10mph.  

 These allowances were baked into road rules for all road users, including cyclists, due to the ongoing harm being encountered by riders – and their steeds – due to dangerous overtaking.  

Councillor Gillian Skuse is an experienced equestrian, having ridden horses for most of her life. She says the majority of folk are polite and courteous on passing – but that she has had several near misses as a rider over the years which eventually prompted her to purchase a camera for her riding hat.  

“I think some drivers panic and think they must get past the horse as quickly as possible but it’s actually the reverse - take your time.   

“Even the most experienced and well-trained horses can be startled by unexpected movements or noises such as a car whizzing past. And the results can be devastating for horse and rider - and other motorists.”  

The British Horse Society (BHS) collates statistics each year, through their ‘Horse i’ app to understand the rate of incidents involving horses and riders on UK roads. During 2024, across the UK:  

3,118 road incidents involving horses have been recorded with The British Horse Society 

• 58 horses have died and 97 have been injured 
• 80 people have been injured because of road incidents 
• 81% of incidents occurred because a driver passed by too closely or too quickly  

The Council’s Road Safety Forum Chair, Councillor Kristopher Leask, said: “We would ask both drivers and riders to be respectful of one another and pay heed to the Highway Code which is there to protect everyone. Follow the 2m wide, 10mph rule when passing horses. It’s just common sense - and it’s now also the law. Especially in Orkney where we have many rural roads and riders, ignorance is just not an excuse.”  

Riders should also ensure they are equipped for riding on public roads – with high viz, helmet and a mobile phone for emergencies only, and full focus on their surroundings. There’s loads more safety tips for riders on the BHS website: https://www.bhs.org.uk/go-riding-and-learn/riding-out-hacking/riding-on-roads/

Police Scotland Area Commander for Orkney, Chief Inspector Scott Robertson, based at Kirkwall Police Station, added: "While we’ve fortunately not had a serious incident involving a horse and rider for many years, near misses are reported. It’s worth remembering most incidents and tragedies on our roads are preventable and down to driver error and impatience. It’s every driver’s responsibility to drive to the conditions in front of them, look out for vulnerable road users, and keep themselves informed on the Highway Code. Any concerns can be reported to the Police on 101.”