Call for greater awareness of Highway Code

GB Paralympian and BHS Ambassador, Natasha Baker supports BHS who is calling for more awareness of the guidelines set for passing equestrians on UK roads

A year on since the Department for Transport announced the key changes to the Highway Code, and yet there was a 21% increase on the number of road-related equestrian incidents reported in 2022 compared to 2021.

Despite the Highway Code changes, there have already been reports of two horses killed on the roads so far in 2023. Last year the equine charity received 3,552 road incident accounts, with 68 equine deaths logged via BHS’s ‘Horse i’ app and an additional 125 being injured and 139 human injuries.

The new guidelines were set at a passing speed of 10mph and allow at least a two-metre gap when passing horses or horse-drawn vehicles. Alongside this, another key change was horse riders are now, alongside pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, recognised as road users most likely to be injured in the event of a collision.

Unfortunately, although this new guidance is a step in the right direction to protect horses and riders, the BHS is disappointed to see that the importance of driving carefully around horses has not made all the public abide by the new Highway Code, and not enough is being done to reinforce the behavioural messages.

GB Paralympian and BHS Ambassador, Natasha Baker says: “I’m very passionate about safety. Hacking is a big part of my training, helping to build my horse’s fitness levels, but heading out on the roads can feel like you’re taking your life into your own hands.

“I’m so sad to see that this continues to remain the case, and it looks to be even worse a year after the changes to the Highway Code were introduced! Riding helps people from all backgrounds and walks of life, particularly when it comes to relieving stressful situations, and more needs to be done to make sure that every rider feels safe.”

The BHS has started a ‘Dead Slow’ campaign to help further educate and create awareness about how to safely pass horses on the road. Alongside this, they are also calling for more awareness on changes of the Highway Code.

Director of Safety at the BHS, Alan Hiscox says: “Horses are still being killed and injured on our roads, riders continue to be seriously injured and too many drivers underestimate the importance of driving carefully around horses. This is detrimental to the safety of equestrians. You only have to look at the two horses who were tragically killed in the space of just two weeks at the beginning of 2023!”

The BHS is urging more equestrians to use the ‘Horse i’ app so that more incidents are reported. The more incidents that are reported, the more the BHS can do to protect the rights of horse riders on Britain’s roads.

For more information, please visit bhs.org.uk