SW remains region in the UK with the highest number of horse and vehicle collisions, new statistics reveal

The South West of England reports the highest level of incidents involving horses and vehicles in the UK, with 203 incidents reported to The British Horse Society (BHS) during 2019-2020. The county of Devon reported over half of the overall incidents, with 104 incidents, 1 human fatality and 33 horse fatalities, also making it the county with the highest equine fatality rate in the UK.

New statistics released by The British Horse Society (BHS) show road incidents involving horses and vehicles are continuing to rise with 1037 incidents reported to the equine charity over the past year.

The BHS has collated incident statistics ahead of Brake’s Road Safety Week to understand the rate of incidents involving horses on UK roads. Of the 1037 reported, 81% of them occurred due to vehicles passing by too closely and close to half were subject to road rage.

With documented increases of incidents of speeding during the lockdown, this is more important than ever.

The charity is urging drivers to be careful when passing horses on the road and encouraging them to adhere to its Dead Slow campaign messages.

Dead Slow was launched to help better educate drivers on how to safely pass horses on the road. The campaign consists of four key behavioural change messages to drivers:

If I see a horse on the road then I will…

Slow down to a maximum of 15mph
Be patient – I won’t sound my horn or rev my engine
Pass the horse wide and slow, (if safe to do so) at least a car’s width if possible
Drive slowly away

Alan Hiscox, Director of Safety at The British Horse Society said: “Year on year we have witnessed an increase in the number of road incidents involving horses being reported to us. With 81% of the incidents reported to us having occurred due to vehicles passing too close it is evident that there is still a great need for better education on how to safely pass horses on the road. It is also deeply concerning that close to half of riders were subject to road rage. We all have a right to use the roads and no one should face abuse for exercising this right”

“With the clocks recently going back, and the night’s drawing in, we are also asking riders to be extra cautious. Letting someone know your route and wearing hi-visibility clothing can help to prevent tragedy”

Since November 2010: