BHS launches 'Hit the Brakes, not my horse Poster for the back of buses

P

PeterNatt

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 July 2003
Messages
4,716
Location
London and Hertfordshire
s68.photobucket.com
7:00am Saturday 9th February 2013 in News.

Buses secret weapon in keeping horses and riders safe

The British Horse Society is hoping that posters placed on the back of buses will help raise awareness of the plight of horses and riders on the road.

Ask any horse rider and they will tell you about an incident they have been involved in while riding on the road. The British Horse Society wants drivers to be aware of the need to be careful when they meet horses on the road. It is not only horse and rider that can be injured; a horse colliding with a vehicle can cause significant damage to a vehicle and its occupants.

To tackle this problem, the British Horse Society has recently trialled a pilot equestrian road safety advertising project in Lanarkshire, Scotland. The ‘Hit the Brakes, not my Horse’ poster was displayed in the region on the back of ten buses for four weeks. The project was enthusiastically welcomed by the horse owning community in the area and much interest has been expressed from other regions in running a similar project.

Sheila Hardy, Senior Executive, Safety says: “The British Horse Society receives many reports each week on our dedicated safety website, www.horseaccidents.org.uk from horse riders who are encountering dangerous driving when riding on the roads. Please help keep all road users safe and slow down for horses and riders, pass slowly giving them plenty of room, they will be extremely grateful.”

From www.smallholder.co.uk

Obviously any advertising campaign costs money so the more horse riders that become paid up members of the British Horse Society means that the more advertising that can be done.
 
A farmer put those posters up by a main road last year. While it was good to see something to increase horse awareness on that particular road, the wording of the campaign made me cringe slightly.

'Hit Your Brakes, Not My Horse'. It's short and catchy but I'd prefer something less bossy. More of an ask rather than a tell'.

Something like 'Check your Speed, Horse riding Area'. Or ' there may be a horse around the corner'.
 
Any advertising raising motorists awareness around horses can only be beneficial.
I also think that the BHS should contact the AA . Sounds daft but my OH got caught doing 35 in a 30, so to avoid points had to go on an AA driving awareness course. I now know of so many people having done the same. Anyway, the 4 hour course was brilliant, it covered everything from road markings, kerb stones, cyclists, braking distances, weather, schools, kids etc etc etc but not one mention of horses on the roads ? It doesn't reach everybody of course but it wouldn't cost anything and would target those who are likely to speed.
 
Good idea, although I personally prefer 'we don't dent we die'. I also think how to pass horses should be a compulsory part of driving tests, at least on the theory part.
 
I hate this slogan to me it shouts rude arrogant horse person! It would be better read hit your brakes not a horse. My horse just reminds me of some of the snobby Surrey riders around me!
 
I think its very hit & miss whether horses are even vaguely covered in theory tests. And I genuinely believe the majority of people who drive incorrectly past horses just don't know, rather than being deliberately rude. I also disagree entirely it should be part of a general campaign including other vulnerable road users. There have been plenty for other users already, about time for horses to have their own.
 
I think the wording is alright. It's short and leaves an impression. Could be better but could be far worse.

I think the telling rather than asking is needed in a shock advert.

I think that another effective advert would be, as mentioned earlier, focusing on the other side - the car after a horse accident. I have to admit, rather guiltily, that when driving by a horse my thoughts are on the fact that I'm very vulnerable if that horse goes through my windshield.

I didn't study anything to do with horses for my theory a few years back and know very few people who have.
 
PandorasJar said:
I think that another effective advert would be, as mentioned earlier, focusing on the other side - the car after a horse accident. I have to admit, rather guiltily, that when driving by a horse my thoughts are on the fact that I'm very vulnerable if that horse goes through my windshield.
Click to expand...

Obvs you can't see it on the OP but the accompanying image on the ad is of a car post-hit and a horse lying in the road. The smashed-up car is in the foreground and the primary point of focus; the horse is much further back.
 
No, it's just not in the OP :) It's on the BHS's Facebook page from when the campaign was launched in Lanarkshire a couple of months back, tho. Agree it's probably best seen as good middle ground between non-equestrian driver and rider POVs.
 
Good idea, although I personally prefer 'we don't dent we die'. I also think how to pass horses should be a compulsory part of driving tests, at least on the theory part.

I had a grey arab dancing across the road in my theory test, i spent more time looking at the riders position haha! Im alittle bit of a bad person. The most common route for the local test centre goes past my yard, when i had my little pony i'd know that at least 3 people on test would pass me at 11:30 and loads on lessons and id hack out during that time. Im a bad person
 
I have a BHS sticker on my car and it says "Hit your brakes not a horse" which I like. Got it when I joined the BHS. I think small car stickers etc like the one I have should be put on the counter of all horse and feed stores and given out to people to increase awareness
 
Maria13 said:
I think small car stickers etc like the one I have should be put on the counter of all horse and feed stores and given out to people to increase awareness
Click to expand...

The trouble with putting posters in feed stores is you are preaching to the already converted - they need to be in say motor spares shops or petrol stations :rolleyes:
 
BHS don't help themselves though Maria.

Was slightly annoyed that this year's membership pack came with only one sticker for two paid adults! Would cost them pennies but would have gone in two of the cars
 
I am glad there will be a campaign for horse riders, as I have actually improved my awareness of bikes since the 'think bike' campaign, and I think a lot of drivers don't really realise the potential accidents that could occur with a horse, as with most other road users you can just do your best not to drive into them if you see them and most likely it'll be ok!
 
The trouble with car stickers is most are too small to read when the car is travelling along... it is only when they are stationary that they can be read... plus too many words make harder reading, no matter how catchy the phrase...

Bus backs are much bigger and slightly harder to miss...
 
Odd slogan

Who drives along, sees a horse and thinks 'should I brake or should I use the horse as a buffer to stop?'

Far better to encourage people to drive in such a way that 'hitting' the brakes is not an issue!
 
Ironically my friend was nearly involved in an incident last week with my horse and a bus. The bus driver drove too close behind my friend, Big Ears didn't react well and despite my friend making hand gestures at the driver to stay back (while Big Ears panicked and spun), all the driver did was continue to drive close behind them.

It's not just speed that's an issue, it is (as others have mentioned on here) people's lack of knowledge on how to pass horses and riders.

Part of my theory test, from what I vaguely recall, was on passing horses but I can't for the life of me remember how much detail it went into. I just remember being grateful that it was something I knew inside out that had come up!
 
Living in an area with the least number of bridleways in the UK, I've yet to see a bus with the BHS poster on. Wonder what areas they targeted ?

I have seen the Hit the Brakes, Not my Horse poster's on livery yard land and a few of the stickers in cars, but the slogan is awful. Makes me want to apologise for the arrogance of the message.

The public must be getting a strange idea about horse riders if all they see are riders on roads dressed as police officers and BHS posters demanding them to hit their brakes.
 
horserider said:
Living in an area with the least number of bridleways in the UK, I've yet to see a bus with the BHS poster on. Wonder what areas they targeted ?

I have seen the Hit the Brakes, Not my Horse poster's on livery yard land and a few of the stickers in cars, but the slogan is awful. Makes me want to apologise for the arrogance of the message.

The public must be getting a strange idea about horse riders if all they see are riders on roads dressed as police officers and BHS posters demanding them to hit their brakes.
Click to expand...

I would agree with that, I ride out on the roads less and less now because I just don't think we have a great rep out there inbetween impersonating police officers and people riding with more and more direct "messages" on the back of tabbards.

I live in a horsey area, we are very lucky around here, quiet country lanes which are old droving roads so rather sraight with no sharp bends and very wide grass verges and generally VERY polite drivers.

Yet the local livery yard have (seemingly) had a bulk delivery of hi viz reading "Back off my horse!!!"
 
Ella19 said:
I hate this slogan to me it shouts rude arrogant horse person! It would be better read hit your brakes not a horse. My horse just reminds me of some of the snobby Surrey riders around me!
Click to expand...

This, the wording 'my horse' is very ill judged, it sounds like 'we are the centre of the universe' and the wording of hit your, suggests subconsciously damage to their own property is better than damage to ours.

REally don't like it even tho I'm normally reluctant to criticise any efforts - but the horses don't dent they die message was much better IMO and I think this one will just wind up people.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top