Devon tops table for horses killed by drivers

Council asked to back 'Dead Slow' campaign

Devon has the country's highest fatality rate for horses that collide with with vehicles. Thirty-three horses and one rider were killed according to the last reported figures, and with 104 incidents - fatal and non-fatal, Devon accounts for more than half of such collisions in the UK.

Cllr Rob Hannaford, leader of the Labour group on Devon County Council asked the council to support a road safety campaign called Dead Slow to make the roads safer for horses, riders and drivers.

He said: “This is a very important campaign for a rural county like Devon, and the new accident figures for our local area are truly shocking. For me this is a local and strategic issue, as a big area around the Exwick part of my division is rural, so I have farms, stables, and horse riders that have to interact with the urban areas, and negotiate busy roads and arterial routes.

“Reporting all incidents is vital in order to better understand the rate of equine-related incidents across Devon. Reporting factual data in this way can really make a big difference to equine safety, and it allows us to lobby and advise MP’s, road safety partnerships, the police and other safety organisations.”

Dead Slow asks that drivers keep to a maximum of 15mph when passing riders, not to sound their horn or rev the engine and give a wide berth.

The latest national statistics prepared by road safety campaign group Brake reported the deaths of 80 horses and injuries to 136.

A total of 81 per cent of the collisions occurred because vehicles passed too closely and close to half (43 per cent) of riders were subject to road rage or abuse, with 40 per cent of incidents because a vehicle passed by too quickly.

Cllr Hannaford’s motion added: “With the documented increase in speeding incidents we support the charity in urging drivers to be very careful when passing horses on the road, and for them to adhere to its Dead Slow campaign messages.

“We join with the BHS to encourage all riders and horse owners to report their incidents to the charity at www.horseincidents.org.uk .

“Furthermore, as Devon’s highways authority we will aim to work with horse owners & riders, local communities, District, Town and Parish Councils, charities and others to wherever possible promote this campaign, in tandem with other measures such as better signage, to achieve behavioural change and secure better equine safety for all.”

In line with council procedures, it was referred to the council’s cabinet for consideration, before returning to full council in 2021.