Police drive home equine road safety advice

As part of the campaign, a group of officers along with police horses from Elswick and Freckleton recently accompanied Ribble Valley riders on a ride out in Read, Simonstone and Sabden, offering advice to road users seen not to be respecting horses and their riders on the road.

A number of car drivers were requested to slow down on Whalley Road heading towards Sabden – an area which riders often report to police.

Several motorcyclists were also given strong words of advice for travelling at speed along the same section of road as they were travelling towards the blind bend, also near Sabden.

PCSO Di Bioletti, from the Sabden, Read, Simonstone and Wiswell Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “We want all road users to respect the rules of the road and each other so that the roads are safe to use for everyone.

“In November last year, two riders were injured – one seriously, a horse died and another horse was injured in a road traffic collision in the Ribble Valley.

“Riders in the area are reporting near misses and collisions, mainly as a result of motorists not slowing down sufficiently to allow for the fact that they are passing an animal whose instinct is to react, sometimes excessively and unpredictably, to perceived dangers.

“As a driver and horse rider myself, I understand how both riders and motorists can behave to respect each other to prevent any undue stress to horses and ultimately, to prevent potential accidents.

“I must point out that during our recent ride out and in general, the vast majority of drivers are courteous and considerate around horse riders and we would like to take the opportunity thank those drivers for helping to keep the roads safe.”