How much clearer does 'PLEASE PASS WIDE AND SLOW' need to be???

EbonyIV

EbonyIV

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12 December 2012
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Unfortunately, this is a bit of a whinge!

I am astonished by the behavior of some drivers I have come across recently. I have found myself in several shouting and arm whaling confrontations recently with people driving too close and too fast! I had a car pass me today, doing more than the speed limit needless to say with another motorist waving him to slow down, completely oblivious in his Subaru!! Only just a few days ago I was passed within inches by a 4X4, I'm very surprised that they did not clip their wing mirrors!! :mad::mad::mad:

Does anyone else experience this as frequently as I do?! Do you have any recommendations??

I would really love to raise Horse & Highway Code awareness in my local area so any thoughts and ideas for me to do this would be greatly appreciated as I have NO CLUE where to start?! :o
 
Start by getting a long, dressage?, whip with a metal end - carry it metal end outwards. A good ding on the car will have more effect than any shouting.

I am not advocating hitting the cars as that would be illegal but if they drive close enough to hit your whip it is not your fault.
 
Ive got a 4yo who's a bit nervous of busses, out riding the other week a bus approaches not appearing to slow down so i start waving my hand up and down urging him to slow, arm getting more and more frantic the closer he is getting, as he passes he waves at me. He didnt have a clue!
 
This is a common occurance when i hack, literally 3 out of 5 cars will not overtake properly. But something ive found to slow people down is to take out my phone and go to take a picture. Soon slows them down if they think they are getting reported.
 
s4sugar said:
Start by getting a long, dressage?, whip with a metal end - carry it metal end outwards. A good ding on the car will have more effect than any shouting.

I am not advocating hitting the cars as that would be illegal but if they drive close enough to hit your whip it is not your fault.
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Yes! Second this! OR pick a stick from the hedge, a nice long stick with a lovely jagged end on it - and use that. If the stoopid git in the vehicle gets close enough to get a scratch on their lovely shiney car, then tough! Perhaps they'll be more careful next time.
 
Haha brilliant advice! Thank you, my patience is wearing very thin with people.
Weebarney how dopey was that bus driver!
I think people just go into autopilot when they drive and become oblivious to everything around, bit dangerous considering the circumstances!!
 
I go out in full hi vis, both myself and the horse; and refuse to hack with anyone else that isn't wearing at least something; on the basis that if anything does happen, they can't say they didn't see me!

I carry a fluorescent schooling whip, and if they are close enough that I can tap the car without moving my hand from the rein then I do - hopefully that will make them realise how close they were...

Mostly for fun, but I have a tracker app of some description running at all times, and when I had an encounter with a lorry recently, I repeated the company and number plate to myself till I was somewhere safe to get phone out, and you could see on the tracker where I had jigged sideways and paused, exactly where the lorry nearly hit us! I included that in the email I sent to the company, the local police horsewatch, and the BHS safety people. I also attached a link of the BHS leaflet for motorists :D I got responses from everyone, and whilst the company denied having a lorry on that road at that time, they did tell me that they'd discussed it with their drivers, and given them all a copy of the leaflet...hopefully they did :rolleyes:

I do keep meaning to contact the BHS and see if I can get, or buy, a job lot of the BHS Road Safety leaflets to put on windscreens in the area - anyone know if you're allowed to do that?
 
I used to wear a hi visit jacket with caution, Lady rider with PMT' written on it. One day, a guy in a Mercedes pulled up alongside me on a country lane, blind corner, lowered his window and asked me if it was true!!!!! Sometimes, there's just no hope for some drivers. Perhaps driving past horses should be included in the test?
 
When I would don my Hi Viz, and clamber aboard big old cob, Hubby always pissed himself and asked if "Please pass wide and slow" was a description or an instruction.

I don't miss traffic out here, when we do meet it it is BIG, but there is plenty of room to get out of the way.
 
The worst thing is when there is a few of you single file on a corner. Nutter (usually in a luxury german brand og car) tries to overtake on a corner, sees car coming the other way and tries to swerve in between horses to get back in the side of the road they should be on.

Why the rush?! It's not worth it. Please see my previous post about the two horses killed in ascot by alleged drunk driver.

It would be really good to get a well publicised campaign out there. The BHS are doing a good job but I think incidents are rather under reported still.
 
I was out driving my BDS national champion horse, when passed and shouted 'gypsy scum' because we were in a two wheeler, and said horse wasn't in show condition with her poo patches, the idiot turned around to drive back across, the girl with me took her driving whip (similar to a lunge line) and cracked it across his bonnet, taking the paint off.
He came past us within 6inches (my foot wouldn't have gone in the gap) and revved his engine up deliberately trying to spook the horses. Needless to say the driver soon stopped shouting when the paint has been chipped all off of his car. Don't suspect he'll do it again!
 
I always wear a long sleeved Hi-Viz jacket so that other road users can clearly see my hand signals. If you want to stop a vehicle point at the driver for 3 seconds and then hold the palm of your hand up at them. If a vehicle is approaching from the rear and you want them to slow down and pass wide then turn your head round and look at them straight in their eyes - that normally does the trick.
Also take the BHS Road Safety course.
 
I tried the moving arm up and down to indicate to an oncoming truck to ease off. He just grinned and waved at me so I gave him a two fingered salute. He'd previousley passed at full speed. Must remember to complain to quarry. :mad:
 
I'm thinking a highviz with something like "I HURT CARS" on the back or something similar.

I'm very tempted to take a camera with flash and take a pic of them as they pass just to wind them up.

I always carry my riding whip handle out and accidently hit the tops of cars if they get too close.

I'm thinking a dictaphone as well so i can make a verbal note of registration number/ company name etc and then either report to the police or start a name and shame FB page :D Hell i might even join Twitter :confused:
 
For anyone who'd like some, we've got leaflets and posters available to download online, or you can order copies to distribute in your local pubs, shops and schools by emailing r.lucas@bhs.org.uk. We've got 'Horse Sense for Motorists', 'Road Sense for Riders', plus poster downloads and stacks more information at horseaccidents.org.uk.

If you have any sort of equine accident or incident (riding or otherwise), we'd urge you to report it using the online form on that site.
 
s4sugar said:
Start by getting a long, dressage?, whip with a metal end - carry it metal end outwards. A good ding on the car will have more effect than any shouting.

I am not advocating hitting the cars as that would be illegal but if they drive close enough to hit your whip it is not your fault.
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This is what I do ^^

I put a bit of brightly coloured tape on the end so the drivers can see it. Even if drivers are oblivious to the highway code -No one wants to scrape their car up against something. I find it creates a little 'bubble' in turn making me feel safer. Of course when cars DO have to pass closely on narrow roads and do so slowly I turn my whip in away from traffic.....and always make eye contact and mouth 'thankyou'. I find this most effective :)
 
Antw23uk said:
I'm thinking a highviz with something like "I HURT CARS" on the back or something similar.

I'm very tempted to take a camera with flash and take a pic of them as they pass just to wind them up.

I always carry my riding whip handle out and accidently hit the tops of cars if they get too close.

I'm thinking a dictaphone as well so i can make a verbal note of registration number/ company name etc and then either report to the police or start a name and shame FB page :D Hell i might even join Twitter :confused:
Click to expand...

I feel doing anything to 'wind them up' will do exactly that. So driver is not likely to respect the next rider he/she sees on the road and may take it upon themselves to wind you up- not a good idea when you are completely vulnerable on a horse.
 
chazza44 said:
The worst thing is when there is a few of you single file on a corner. Nutter (usually in a luxury german brand og car) tries to overtake on a corner, sees car coming the other way and tries to swerve in between horses to get back in the side of the road they should be on.

Why the rush?! It's not worth it. Please see my previous post about the two horses killed in ascot by alleged drunk driver.

It would be really good to get a well publicised campaign out there. The BHS are doing a good job but I think incidents are rather under reported still.
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An effective way to deal with corners in stay out from the left, cars are less likely to pass you and more likely to see you.
 
I'm getting a hi-viz vest printed with "CAUTION - HAT CAM WORN" if these thicko drivers are scared of getting caught being twonks they'll see this message & behave themselves?
I'll get my 16yr old son to rig up a lens thingy I can stick on my hat to look authentic lol ;)
 
elsazzo said:
I feel doing anything to 'wind them up' will do exactly that. So driver is not likely to respect the next rider he/she sees on the road and may take it upon themselves to wind you up- not a good idea when you are completely vulnerable on a horse.
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You are right, wrongly worded by myself, apologies.

It's just so frustrating and dangerous. They just dont think thats the problem. They think short term ... "lets skim past said rider" ... long term thinking they would be thinking more along the lines of ... "lets skim past said rider but actually horse might end up on car and someone could die ... lets not do that!" ....
 
Xmas_Derpette said:
I'm getting a hi-viz vest printed with "CAUTION - HAT CAM WORN" if these thicko drivers are scared of getting caught being twonks they'll see this message & behave themselves?
I'll get my 16yr old son to rig up a lens thingy I can stick on my hat to look authentic lol ;)
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I think you are on to something ... Perhaps "SMILE YOUR ON CAMERA" :)
 
The metal end of a dressage whip on the roof or window is indeed a good idea - especially if you then start screaming blue murder that THEY hit your horse and you are going to be speaking to their insurance company, before they can even open their mouths.

As to the head-cam, in theory it is a an excellent idea, but just a couple of weeks ago I was reading the story of a chap who had a near-miss with a driver while he was cycling to work. The driver got out of his car and threatened on camera, twice, to kill the cyclist, which is a reportable crime. Cyclist went to the police station (couldn't report it over the phone or by any other method than in person, unlike just about any other crime you can think of) and was fobbed off by the police and told that a downloaded copy of the footage would be inadmissable as he might have tampered with it. Of course he didn't want to give up the original, for very good reason. He found out that the driver had previous for ABH and was actually in breach of his licence conditions at the time, but the police didn't seem to be bothered by that. The police spoke to the driver and told him they would be taking no further action so then the driver started harrassing the cyclist and issued court papers for whatever. Cyclist went back to the police and insisted it was taken up again and eventually it did go to court and the driver got fined a few hundred pounds. The worst thing about this story is that the cyclist was a BARRISTER and found out the hard way that the law basically didn't give a stuff. What chance have ordinary folk got? When I got hit by a car being driven by someone who was speeding and decided to overtake me as I was in the middle of the road turning right, didn't stop until he saw me get up and myself onto the pavement and subsequently told the police a pack of lies, I was basically told it was my own fault for cycling to work and therefore knowingly putting myself at risk. My insurance had to pick up the entire tab - the best part of £1000.
 
PeterNatt said:
I always wear a long sleeved Hi-Viz jacket so that other road users can clearly see my hand signals. If you want to stop a vehicle point at the driver for 3 seconds and then hold the palm of your hand up at them. If a vehicle is approaching from the rear and you want them to slow down and pass wide then turn your head round and look at them straight in their eyes - that normally does the trick.
Also take the BHS Road Safety course.
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THIS THIS THIS! Stop waving your arm up and down, it's not taught anymore and nobody cares.
 
Perhaps a hi vis tabard with MANSLAUGHTER 10-15 years or Fancy Higher Car Insurance Premiums? Pass Wide & Slow doesn't work with some numpties. I acknowledge every driver who makes the effort to respect my space but some just don't treat your horse as a living breathing animal with it's own fears.
On a drivers note my 17 year old son had his first driving lesson a couple of weeks ago and met 3 horses riding 3 abreast along a lane. They didn't hurry to move over or thank him for being patient, not a good advert for the rest of us.
Re buses a friend contacted our local bus depot to explain she'd had a bad experience with a bus which had frightened her horse. She asked if the drivers could be made aware of the need to pass horses wide and slow quite a few were frightened of large vehicles passing close and quickly. It's really worked as the drivers are great now, some even turn their engine off if they see someone having probs. Friend did get back in touch to say she'd noticed a huge improvement and THANKS. This is perhaps a good PR exercise in other areas.
 
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