How to get a slow down for horses road sign put up?

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Sandstone1

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Does anyone know how to go about getting a road sign warning drivers horses are likely to be on the road? Im thinking of the triangle ones with picture of horse and rider on.
I ride on a road that drivers seem to think is a race track!
Its a country road but people use it as a cut trough ad its getting quite frightening riding on it.
 
Generally they arent willing to put them up for routes where the horses and cars are going along the road, only where the horses may be crossing the road or where there is eg a riding school so a v large volume of unexpected horse riders.

But it's still worth a try. Accidents sadly help the case! Also if the road suddenly narrows from two way to single track etc.

I guess in summary its quite hard to get one put in on a two way road where there isnt a bad accident record as they work on the basis that motorists should be expecting to see bikes pedestrians and horses etc...hmmm we all know thats not the case.
 
You need to speak to your local council and/or Highways department :) But you'll probably need to get quite a few people to ask before they pay attention:(

We have plenty of them round here... No-one pays attention to them though:eek::(
 
OK, I'm not certain, but my Mum looked into this a while back....

I believe you need to contact your local council. We were told these signs could only be placed where there are horses 'crossing' the road. Does the lane you mention have any junctions along it?

We didn't pursue the matter much further, but still keep meaning to! It's one of those phonecalls you never seem to get around to!

I don't know if this info is correct for all areas, but I would say contacting your local council or the BHS would be your best bet.

Good luck!!! :D
 
Just seen some of the other replies. The advisor from the Council at Devon County Show didn't seem to think getting a sign put up would require lots of people to ask... But you do need to do your homework on requesting the correct place, ie crossing.

We also informed them of a number of items such as fallen old gates cluttering/blocking local bridleways and amazingly all of the noted issues were sorted out!! Shocked but pleased! I think you really need to track down your person in the council responsible for footpaths and bridleways etc. Failing that, the BHS :) Always worth asking!!
 
I tried this where my horse used to live. There was a riding school about 4 miles down the road so thought had good case!
However the council said they would do nothing until there was an accident! We had a right moan and basically said it takes someone (rider or horse) to be injured or killed before you will consider it and he basically said yes! Was so cross. Then became even more cross, as about a month later a sign had been put up... BUT not for horses it had a bl***y toad on it and the council said that lots of toads had been run over down that road!!! Wasnt best pleased. Good luck with yours. Keep persisting or get a petition going :-) x
 
We've had great success where I live in having signs put up on the roads (no crossings).

Approach your local council and go from there.
 
We have a bridleway crossing
a very busy road. A loose hirse got hit by a car there, all ok thank god, the car wasn't! My friend set about calling and emailing council, golf course(whose land the entrance of the bridleway was on) and finally the golf course cut the hedge down to improve visibility of riders and drivers, and singed a slow on the roads. An ' accompanied horse' sign was already in place.
There is not a lot the council can really do if people ignore signage.
 
i have to ride out of my own yard onto a very busy road.although its a 30mph speed limit most go alot faster.i complained 1st to my local mp.then complained to the police who did speed checks[they were delighted as they copped quite a few with fines].then i write to the higway agency.within a month i got 2 signs one each side of my gateway.im a private yard with only my 2 horses.so it pays to keep moaning very loudly!!!
 
katiey said:
I tried this where my horse used to live. There was a riding school about 4 miles down the road so thought had good case!
However the council said they would do nothing until there was an accident! We had a right moan and basically said it takes someone (rider or horse) to be injured or killed before you will consider it and he basically said yes!
Click to expand...

This is exactly what we got told from our local council when we asked for some :mad:
 
amymay said:
In which case your question to the council is 'can I have the name of the person I sue when there is an accident because of no road signs?'.

Works like a dream every time ;)
Click to expand...

Unfortunately we did have someone lose her life waiting to leave the yard when scrambler bikes came past her & her horse spooked.
http://www.horsemart.co.uk/news/retired_dentist_dies_in_freak_riding_accident/2693
We still got no signs :mad:

We have since moved to a quiet village, but if i ever have to ask for them again i shall quote you :)
 
If you really want something done as there are near misses on a regular basis then get the MEDIA involved

Is there anyone in your local media who rides a horse that you can invite to ride and perhaps film on those roads?
 
Contact local Borough/district/County Council.

A) Ask them to log a Highways report that you have requested one AND GET A REFERENCE NUMBER

B) ALSO ask them who to contact for Accident Data and Road use surveys- this will have to be a written/emailed request- poss under FOI

c) ALSO find out their response times to enquires


THEN- time to get Local Support

1) Start with district/borough/County Councillors- try to get them onside with you- What ever conversation you have with them back up in written form- writing/email- keep copies of EVERYTHING

2) Set up an email account- (you will need this for ALL correspondence from steps 3/4/5/6 etc

3) Make a SMALL flyer- with Councils/Highways departments telephone number and email address and website ALSO with email account you set up in step 2... then when you are doing #3 HAND out the flyer to all petition signers and encourage them to ALSO contact Highways dept and to ALSO log a report AND GET A REFERENCE NUMBER - ask them to EMAIL YOU all of their reference numbers

4) You said that a lot of horse riders use the road- PETITION TIME!!! Make a petition and spend a few weekends STANDING at a point along the road (take spare leadropes) ASK all horse riders to sign petition

5) Contact Councillor from step 1 and forward them ALL reference numbers and also a copy of the petition

6) Forward ALL reference numbers and petition (TAKE A PHOTOCOPY) to Highways department WITH a map of the road and explain where you think sign(s) should go and WHY you think the signs will make a difference. Also take photographs of area highlighting problem area's- if bends inroad etc INCLUDE original ref number from first report/request by you- include road surveys (if fairly old then point out that data is fairly old and road use has INCREASED) include accident data as well

7) kick back and wait...

GOOD LUCK!!

BTW-where abouts are you??

xXx
 
ROG said:
If you really want something done as there are near misses on a regular basis then get the MEDIA involved

Is there anyone in your local media who rides a horse that you can invite to ride and perhaps film on those roads?
Click to expand...

There is NO point in getting media involved UNTIL you have asked the council to do something- see previous post

xXx
 
I wrote to my local council asking for signs to be put up as the entrance to a bridleway was from a busy A road that is very narrow and on a bend, the signs went up the following week, there had been a pony killed there a few years ealier though which migh have influenced things.
 
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