DEAD Slow boards have been put up on Warwickshire’s roads to help improve safety around horses.
Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership has distributed 44 ‘Dead Slow’ boards to 32 equestrian yards across the county to support the growing equestrian community and to help improve their safety while using the roads.
The boards, produced in partnership with the British Horse Society and Warwickshire Horse Watch, will be displayed on private properties where passing drivers can see them.
The boards ask drivers to pass horses wide – two metres – and slow – 10mph or less.
This reflects the new 2022 Highway Code that is now specific about what drivers and motorcyclists need to do to safely pass horses.
Those travelling on two wheels such as off road bikes and motorbikes with a loud engine can be particularly challenging for horses. These road users should be prepared to stop and turn their engine off.
In 2022, nationally 69 horses were killed and 139 riders were injured on the roads.
Alan Hiscox, Director of Safety at The British Horse Society, said: “We are very pleased to support Warwickshire Horse Watch and Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership to take steps to improve road safety for horses and riders. Recently we attended a huge camping and caravan show at the NEC and spoke to over 500 drivers, many of whom aren’t involved in the equine industry, and only 21 per cent knew about the Highway Code changes for equestrians.
“This is extremely disappointing and shows there is still a greater level of education needed. These road signs will be a critical part of this, generating greater awareness in the Warwickshire area.
“We also know that incidents involving horses on our roads are under reported both to the police and The British Horse Society, so to give us a better picture we are asking equestrians to use the BHS Horse i app to report incidents regardless of severity. This gives the BHS and road safety partners more information to be able to focus our resources where they are really needed, in order to best support equestrians.”
Members of the public can also report and submit digital footage showing potential moving traffic offences such as dangerous or careless driving to Warwickshire Police via Op Snap. The evidence will be reviewed by a road traffic police officer.
Visit www.warwickshire.police.uk/OperationSnap for more information.
