Unfortunately in the last year there were 1,037 road incidents reported that involved horses, with 38 of them happening in Greater Manchester, up from 16 in the previous year. In Cheshire there was also a rise from 30 incidents up to 46 incidents. The British Horse Society (BHS) statistics reveal that nationally there was also a 23% increase in horse related road incidents (845 incidents reported in 2018/19).
The statistics show that 81% of the incidents occurred due to the vehicles passing by too closely to the horses and 43% of riders reported road rage or abuse. 40% of incidents occurred because a vehicle passed by too quickly. In the last year sadly 80 horses have died and 1 person has been killed, with a further 135 injured because of road incidents.
The statistics have been released to coincide with Brake’s Road Safety Week. BHS are urging drivers to be more careful when passing horses on the road and reminding them of their ‘Dead Slow’ campaign. If you see a horse on the road then you should:
- Slow down to a maximum of 15mph
- Be patient – don’t sound your horn or rev your engine
- Pass the horse wise and slow, (if safe to do so) at least a car’s width if possible
- Drive slowly
Since November 2010:
- 4,775 road incidents have been reported to the BHS
- 44 people have lost their lives and a further 1,220 people have been injured
- 395 horses have been killed and 1,080 have been injured
If you have been involved in a road accident that was not your fault then you could be entitled to compensation. Our expert solicitors will guide you through every stage of your accident to make sure you gain the compensation you deserve. Give us a call today on 0161 696 6235 to talk to a member of our team.
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