Newslink

News
Equine fatalities on the rise as
drivers struggle to handle horses
Colin Lilly
Editor, MSA Newslink
Following a presentation at the MSA GB
National Training Day at Nottingham in
2019 by Alan Hiscox, director of Safety
at the British Horse Society (BHS), there
have been a number of follow-up stories
in Newslink on the particular challenge
presented by horses on the roads.
In November 2020, in conjunction with
the Brake Road Safety Week, the BHS
published the statistics for 2019-20 of
traffic incidents involving horses and
other road users. That year saw 1,037
incidents involving horse and other road
users, an increase of 23 per cent on the
previous year. Sadly these resulted in the
deaths of 80 horses and one person,
with a further 136 horses injured along
with 135 people.
Further analysis revealed that:
n 40 per cent of the incidents involved
a vehicle travelling too fast.
n 81 per cent involved a vehicle
travelling too close.
n 43 per cent riders reported road rage
and abuse.
Looking at these figures the survey
showed that 203 incidents were in the
south west. More than half, 104, were in
Devon, and they involved one rider and
33 horse fatalities.
These figures are particularly worrying
in a county like Devon which is
principally a rural county with active
farms, stables and riders; it is a county
where animals should be anticipated as
part of the environment.
Nationally, a number of incidents
involved semi-feral ponies such as those
found on Dartmoor, Exmoor and in the
New Forest. These covered 127 of the
incidents – well over 10 per cent. It is
worth noting that two of the named
national parks are in Devon.
In December four ponies were killed in
a collision in the New Forest on Roger
Penny Way, a road with a history for
such collisions. It is thought that the
ponies had wandered on to the 40mph
road to lick salt from the freshly gritted
road. The vehicle involved, a Land Rover
Discovery, was severely damaged.
Earlier in the month three donkeys had
been killed on the same stretch of road
which is known locally as a blackspot for
similar incidents.
The New Forest is the largest remaining
area of land where ‘commoners’ can
allow their animals to roam freely on the
heathland; this includes cattle, ponies
and donkeys.
The New Forest National Park
Authority (NNPA) reported that in 2019,
58 animals were killed and 32 injured; it
added that as the animals roam
throughout the area 24 hours a day,
motorists should anticipate their
presence.
But do drivers take the issue seriously?
Earlier this year Warwickshire Police held
a campaign highlighting riders being two
abreast. Many drivers claim this is not
allowed, despite the Highway Code
suggesting that this is sensible if one
horse/rider is accompanying a young or
inexperienced horse or rider.
There has been talk recently about the
need to train drivers on rural roads where
possible. Even if this cannot be factored
into your training plans because of
distance, discussions with your pupils
about some of the potential hazards
peculiar to a rural environment should be
an absolute must.
ADIs asked to shape the future of autonomous cars
A major new survey has been launched
to assess how motorists will accept and
use connected, co-operative and
autonomous and automated transport in
the future.
IAM RoadSmart is part of this
EU-funded research project, which is
called Drive2theFuture. The outcome of
the survey will also assist the developers
of these technologies to understand and
meet users’ needs and wants.
Driver trainers’ views are very
important to this project, and IAM
RoadSmart has asked MSA GB
members to complete a short online
survey which will allow the consortium
to consider their views going
forward. The survey is being circulated
to driver trainers and driving schools
across Europe.
More about Drive2 the Future ....
Drive2the
Future
To take part in survey, click here
Drive2 the
Future
Survey
12
NEWSLINK n JANUARY 2021