South West Police Launch Campaign to Improve Horse and Rider Safety on Rural Roads

Police across the South West have recently teamed up to raise awareness of the risks faced by horses and riders on rural roads. In a joint operation in Bampton last month, Devon and Cornwall Police’s Rural Affairs team worked with the British Horse Society (BHS) and mounted officers from Avon & Somerset Police to remind motorists how to pass horses safely.

Figures from the BHS show the scale of the issue: in the past year, 3,118 horse-related incidents were reported on UK roads, leading to the deaths of 58 horses and injuries to another 97. The charity notes that around 81 per cent of these incidents were caused by drivers travelling too fast or leaving insufficient space.

During the operation, plain-clothes mounted officers rode through the Bampton area, monitoring how motorists behaved around horses. When unsafe driving was observed, details were passed on to local officers who stopped vehicles and offered guidance. Police said a significant number of drivers did not fully understand the recommended way to overtake horses, with some believing they had acted safely when they had not.

PC Lucy Wyatt, Rural Affairs officer for Devon and Cornwall Police and the force’s equine lead, said the risks are well known to her.

“Having grown up riding, I’ve seen how frightening it can be when a driver comes past too quickly or too close,” she said. “Horses are unpredictable animals, and if they are startled by a vehicle, the consequences can be extremely serious for riders and motorists alike.”

Several drivers were found to be travelling too fast or passing without adequate clearance, and one driver was caught overtaking while using a mobile phone.

Motorists were reminded to slow to 10mph when passing horses, avoid revving engines or using the horn, and only overtake when there is at least a two-metre gap and when it is clearly safe to do so.

PC Wyatt also encouraged riders to wear high-visibility clothing, use clear hand signals and stay observant. She added that this operation is the first of many planned initiatives aimed at improving safety and providing reassurance to the equestrian community.