A Perthshire horse owner is pleased to hear an updated version of the Highway Code will add to the safety of riders mixing with road traffic.
A new version of the Highway Code has added measures to help protect vulnerable road users.
These updates to the rules aim to protect the most vulnerable, creating a hierarchy of users, including pedestrians, particularly children, older or disabled people, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders.
With regards to passing horses, road users must now pass horses/horse drawn vehicles at under 10mph.
And drivers must give two metres clearance.
Alisha Murray (21) from Logierait was prompted to organise a Pass Wide and Pass Slow event last September after a number of incidents near home scared her and her horse.
Riders turned out and joined in her organised ride, attempting to educate petrol-driven road users that horses needed special consideration and were not machines.
The brightly clothed riders made a circuit around Pitlochry and were a curious sight when they grouped in the centre of town, tailed by Alisha’s dad in a lorry bearing a Pass Slow and Wide banner.
Alisha’s ride was such a success she wishes to gather the mounted troops again on April 17 for an event in Aberfeldy and redo the Pitlochry demonstration in September.
This week she welcomed the updates to the Highway Code: “As far as I’m aware, they’ve made the changes to make vulnerable road users safer.
“It will be the law now to pass horse riders/ carriage drivers at 10mph and to give two metres of space when passing.
“But when I heard bits about it on the radio this afternoon, I was saddened to hear that they never really mentioned us horse riders.
“I am delighted that they are changing the Highway Code to keep us venerable road users safer but I do hope that drivers are aware that it not only applies to cyclists and walkers but to horse riders and carriage drivers too.
“Six horses have already died on the UK’s roads this year and we are only one month in.
“I really think the only way this law can be enforced is if police take reports seriously.
“Unfortunately from what I’ve seen on Facebook posted by other horse riders all over the country is that police don’t really seem to do much unless you have hard evidence such as video footage - which most riders struggle with if they do not have a hat cam.
“I would urge vulnerable road users to continue to wear as much ‘hi viz’ as possible so we are seen and to report any incidents to the police.”
