Grimsby horse riders taking to roads to raise awareness of dangerous driving

"All we are asking for is a couple of seconds to let us pull in out of the way, or overtake us safely"

Horse riders in the Grimsby area have organised an annual group ride pushing back against dangerous driving. Last year, 58 horses were killed by road traffic, according to the British Horse Society.

Pass Wide and Slow is a worldwide campaign, with the Grimsby event meeting at Grove Farm Liveries in New Waltham on Saturday, September 13. Riders will set off on the five-mile route at 10am and anyone is welcome to come along in support, including dog walkers and cyclists.

Organiser Rachael Williamson, who rides a horse called Violet, told Grimsby Telegraph: "I think it is getting worse, to be honest. My horse was always good on the roads and then I went down Station Road earlier this year and everything was flying past her."

Violet, an 11-year-old cob, was "wound up" by all the fast and close overtakes. Rachael said: "Now she is quite anxious every time we do go out."

Rachael said dangerous driving was "really common" and "a shame", because horse riders have no option but to use the roads due to a lack of off-road access to public bridleways. The area is getting more congested due to new-build homes, she added.

"It does not help with all the new estates going up either, it gets busier and busier," she said. "It is like riding in a town now. We are not allowed on footpaths, so we don't have any choice but to use roads."

Rachael said there "must be 50-plus horses in our area" and many riders are children, with Grove Farm Liveries operating a riding school. She said: "It is not even about 'reclaiming the roads', it is just raising awareness about how to overtake safely.

"I hate to say it, because we get slated by drivers, but horses are flight animals. Drivers say they should not be on the roads. Well, we would prefer not to be on the roads.

"All we are asking for is a couple of seconds to let us pull in out of the way or overtake us safely, as The Highway Code states. It takes seconds, and then you can get on with your day and everybody gets to their destination safely."

In its advice for motorists driving past horses, The Highway Code states: "Always pass wide and slowly. When you see a horse on a road, you should slow down to a maximum of 10 mph.