Safety advice for horse riders/RAF Shawbury

Whitchurch Rural Parish has many horse riders who regularly use the roads and lanes. The Parish Council has recently requested more road signage to reflect this and asks that all road users ensure that they are travelling safely.

The British Horse Society has launched a 'Dead Slow' campaign:

'The marketing campaign comes as The British Horse Society reveals figures from its horse accidents website. In the five years since the start of the website, the charity received over 2,000 reports of road incidents involving horses. Of these, 36 caused rider deaths, and 181 resulted in a horse dying from their injuries or being put to sleep.

Lee Hackett, BHS Director of Policy, said: “This petrol pump advertising campaign has the potential to reach millions of our target audience – UK drivers. By slowing down around horses, drivers can keep everybody on the roads safe; horses and riders as well as drivers and their passengers.

On the day of the advertising launch, Liz Saville-Roberts MP submitted an Early Day Motion (EDM) on behalf of The British Horse Society to Parliament, asking Government to support The British Horse Society in:

• Raising awareness amongst vehicle drivers of how they can safely pass a horse on the roads;
• Strengthening the provision of horse rider and carriage driver safety in the Highway Code;
• Introducing a section of the UK driving test designed to raise awareness of horse riders and carriage drivers on the roads;
• Considering whether it should be made legislatively compulsory for horse riders and carriage drivers to wear high-viz when on the roads.'

http://www.bhs.org.uk/safety-and-accidents/free-leaflets

RAF Shawbury offers the opportunity to apply for some hi-viz equipment for horse and rider (subject to availability and budgets). A safety leaflet has also been produced which can be viewed at:

http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafshawbury/flyinginfo/beseenbesafesafetyleaflet.cfm

Please be aware, be seen and travel safely.

Thank you.