How to pass horses safely on the road

More than five horses are killed every month on UK roads. We explain how to pass a horse and its rider safely when driving a car.

How to pass horses safely on the road

Most drivers understand the need to pass a horse ‘wide and slow’. Unfortunately, for some motorists, the message doesn’t seem to be getting through.

Statistics from The British Horse Society reveal 68 horses were killed and 125 injured on UK roads during 2022. A total of 3,552 incidents were reported to the equine charity over the 12-month period, with 82 percent of them due to vehicles passing too closely,

The British Horse Society says these are the four simple steps to take when passing a horse on the road:

  • Slow down to a maximum of 15mph.
  • Be patient – DO NOT sound your horn or rev your engine.
  • Pass the horse wide and slow, allowing at least a car’s width between your vehicle and the horse if possible.
  • Drive slowly onwards.

‘Be sure to stay alert’

Pass a horse wide and slow

Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart has also issued advice on how to pass a horse safely on the road. In essence, drivers should expect the unexpected and give the horse and rider plenty of room.

Jaimi McIlravey, a horse rider and digital content executive at IAM RoadSmart, said: “Please continue to be careful when driving close to horses. From personal experience, it’s not always a car that will spook a horse.

“You may be driving safely with enough gap between yourself and a horse and rider. However, something else may scare them, so be sure to stay alert.”

How to pass a horse safely from behind

Horse taken on a test drive
  • Slow down and hold back. The rider will indicate whether it is safe to approach and overtake. If they don’t, stay at least three car-lengths behind and be careful to not move into this space. Be prepared to slow down further or stop – any sudden movements or loud noises could upset the horse.
  • Take extra care on rural roads – a horse could be around the next corner.
  • Allow at least a car’s width when passing a horse and stick to a 15mph maximum.
  • On a narrow lane, where there’s not enough room to pass a horse, the rider may decide to trot to the nearest gateway or grass verge. Do not accelerate to match the trot – stay back.
  • If you see two riders side by side, it might be for safety reasons, Give them some consideration.
  • Keep an eye out for signals from the rider.
  • Accelerate gently when passing the horse and when moving away.

If you are approaching a horse from the other side of the road, slow down and consider the use of hazard warning lights to alert drivers behind you.

For more advice, please visit The British Horse Society website.

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Motoring Research team
Motoring Research team
News, reviews, advice and features from the award-winning Motoring Resarch editorial team.

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