Home / Disasters and Accidents / Drivers Ignorant of Horse Safety Laws
Drivers Ignorant of Horse Safety Laws
4 Jul
Summary
- Motorists must give 2m space, go 10mph max when passing horses.
- 76% of Silverstone attendees unaware of new Highway Code rules.
- Over 3,100 horse-vehicle incidents logged in 2024.
A recent clip from the UK showcases a near-miss between a horse rider and a speeding red Audi, intensifying discussions on equestrian road safety. The footage shows the car passing extremely close, provoking a distressed reaction from the horse.
Updated Highway Code Rule 215 now requires motorists to provide at least 2 meters of clearance and maintain a speed of 10 mph or below when overtaking horses. This change, implemented in 2022, also placed horse riders higher in the road user hierarchy due to their physical vulnerability.
Despite these regulations, a substantial number of drivers are reportedly unaware of the updated rules. Surveys indicate that over 60% of drivers nationally lack this knowledge. In 2024, the British Horse Society recorded over 3,100 road incidents involving horses and vehicles, leading to 58 equine fatalities and 97 injuries.
Alan Hiscox of the BHS emphasizes that rapid vehicle passage at inappropriate speeds poses a genuine collision risk. Statistics show that a close pass alone significantly increases the odds of a collision. The BHS advocates for its 'Dead Slow' campaign and encourages reporting of near-misses via the Horse i app.
