Recent News Articles
There have been three news articles in the last week involving horse riding on the road. One (http://www.yourhorse.co.uk/news/articles/road-safety-campaign-gathers-momentum) was about the leaders of a British community campaign (run through Facebook) to change the speed limit on a local road appearing on the BBC to gather support for their proposal. They wish to lower the speed limit on this road as it is frequented by horse riders, but the speeds the vehicles are allowed to travel at are dangerous - as proven by an accident where a horse lost it's life. I found this a positive article as it is creating awareness of the issues riders face and highlights how one community is trying to make their roads safer and become more inclusive.
"The city had an extensive rural road network, used by hundreds of horse riders, whom the council had a responsibility to keep safe, a DCC equine spokeswoman said."
"'The safety of our horses and riders is paramount. There has been millions spent recently to safeguard cyclists. Horse riders are vulnerable road users as well,' one rider said."
While in contrast, another article (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11832128), this time from New Zealand, revisited the story of Newshub journalist Karen Rutherford who was hit by a car while out horse riding with her daughter last August. Karen was badly injured and the horse she was riding was killed. The person who was driving the car that hit the pair was sentenced this week to 80 hours community work and ordered to pay $25,000 after being found guilty of careless driving causing injury. Many in the horse riding community believe that the driver should have been given a harsher sentence to reflect the horrific consequences of their actions. It seems when the law is not clear about horse riders rights and the rules around them on the road everyone is left with bad feelings.
Lastly there was an article from The Otago Daily Times on the first of April as an April Fools hoax (https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/bylaw-would-protect-riders) that proclaimed horse riders would have to wear 'tail-boards' with brake lights and indicators when riding their horses on the roads around the district. But even though this article seems purely humorous, it actually does draw attention to a big issue for those who ride horses on the road - safety. I found these two quotes very relevant:
"'The safety of our horses and riders is paramount. There has been millions spent recently to safeguard cyclists. Horse riders are vulnerable road users as well,' one rider said."
