Following on... road safety campaign

Sanolly

Sanolly

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As there seem to have been a few threads recently about moronic drivers etc, do you think that as there are so many equestrian people in the UK we could get a campaign going for more awareness to be made to drivers? (Sorry for the clumsy sentence!)
I think if we could get :

*more coverage on riders hand signals how to pass horses in driving tests.
*more police interest in drivers putting riders lives at risk (and other road users)
*more off road access
*"horse lanes"?

Then surely that would make a start on making the roads safer for riders. Obviously I know someone is going to start about those who don't wear hi-viz but I am speaking for those of us who do.
I think helmet cams seem to be the way forward as well.

How would we go about starting this?
 
Great idea.
Talking about hand signals,aren't they taught in driving tests anymore?I had to know them in mine (Mind you back then you still had those cars without flashers)
 
I have been offered a helmet cam from our local bobby - my only reservation is madam is getting a bit wound up by tractors etc and I worry that we are not the best candidates for the job as she isn't 100% after a few unpleasant incidents.

On another note I have ordered an ex police hi viz jacket off ebay ( £10) with blue cheques on sleeves and bottom of coat so I can put my arm out on the blind bend on a steep hill we have to encounter to slow people down - think it may work along with my polite tabard :)
 
I think awareness of hand signals is a big problem. The other day I was leading a hack of about four or five of us when a car came towards us quickly. I did the "slow down" signal. Not only did the car driver not seem to understand neither did any of the other riders!
 
I have also found alot of drivers don't understand 'slow down' signal...surely, even if you don't understand it, its obvious the 'signaler' is tryin to say something, use abit of common sense & slow down anyway?! Mind you, round my way its normally bus/lorry drivers, who are foreign anyway, and just don't care! :confused:
 
I don't know if it's just me, but I don't see as many "Slow Down For Horses" car stickers as often as I used to. It might be because I'm in a more rural area, so less heavy traffic roads (but narrow and scarier IMO!), or it might be another reason or reasons, but I've never had one in my current car and I'm going to make the effort to get one. How about everyone else who's not got one does the same? I know its not much but if they are seen by drivers all over the place it may sink in with a few? Can't hurt anyway, can it?
 
Flame_ said:
I don't know if it's just me, but I don't see as many "Slow Down For Horses" car stickers as often as I used to. It might be because I'm in a more rural area, so less heavy traffic roads (but narrow and scarier IMO!), or it might be another reason or reasons, but I've never had one in my current car and I'm going to make the effort to get one. How about everyone else who's not got one does the same? I know its not much but if they are seen by drivers all over the place it may sink in with a few? Can't hurt anyway, can it?
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No, I've found that too! I also haven't seen as many of those reflective jackets which ask to pass slowly either! Luckily where I ride we're right next to a massive forrest so we hack out there more often than on roads, but we did a PC excursion where we planned our route and did some group road riding.. the lack of knowledge on hand signals and general good behaviour on roads was shocking! So glad we did it because I learnt a lot and so did the other people on it! xx
 
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