Overtaking a horse and cart on the road

[HashRouge]

Until today, I've never met a horse and cart on the roads while driving. Today I met two! The first one was easy as he was going in the opposite direction so I just slowed as I would for a ridden horse and got a nice thank you. The second one was going in the same direction as me and was trotting along, being driven by a young boy (no older than 13, I would say) who was not wearing a hat. If I had met a ridden horse walking in the same place I would have over-taken happily, but in this situation I didn't feel comfortable doing so. Partly due to the fact the horse was trotting and I felt I would have to overtake faster than I was happy with, and partly because the driver was so young, not wearing a hat and I'd already seen the horse spook out slightly into the other lane (though it generally looked under perfect control). So I decided to sit back at a comfortable distance (so as not to crowd or unsettle the horse and driver) and wait for them to turn off. But the driver behind me kept flashing their lights at me trying to get me to overtake and when I didn't, pulled out and overtook both me and the horse and cart. Now I'm happy with my decision not to overtake - I didn't think I could do so safely and am glad I didn't. I only had to wait a short while before the horse and cart turned off the road anyway. But what I'm not at all sure about is what is correct when encountering a horse and cart on the road. Should you overtake if they are trotting, or only if they're walking? I generally wouldn't overtake a ridden horse that is being trotted on the road as it generally means the rider is going to turn off somewhere soon. But the driver behind me obviously couldn't see why I wouldn't overtake. So I don't know if I actually was being a bit over-cautious and wondered what everyone else thought?

 

[pennyturner]

Generally, the default pace for a driven horse is trot, so we will usually be happy for you to overtake when it is safe to do so.

Some drivers prefer lots of space, such as when overtaking a ridden horse - those of us who spend lots of time on the road generally have animals well used to traffic and don't mind so much, so long as you're sensible.

Something that drivers rarely realise is that the horse is actually much SAFER the faster it is going - a horse in walk, or stand is much more likely to dive sideways than one going nicely forward!

 

[Dry Rot]

Well, we weren't there, so your decision.

I think I'd have stayed behind as you did but left more than enough space for a car to get ahead of me but still be behind the cart.

I was stuck behind a car towing a caravan with another car behind that the other day. The car driver was obviously nervous about over taking the car towing the caravan which is fair enough, especially on what might be a strange road. Now, I know that road well and there are sections where it would be quite safe to over take a car towing a caravan but not that plus a second car.

Because the car in front of me was so close to the caravan, there was no possibility for me to over take the convoy in stages. I either had to over take the lot or none at all because there was no gap for me to pull into.

In these situations, it is fine to be cautious, and you should be, but also make allowances for other drivers who may (a) know the road, (b) have the experience and confidence to over take, and (c) have a car powerful enough to do so quickly and safely when the opportunity arises. If you cause other drivers to become frustrated, they will take risks and that really can cause accidents!

So it sounds to me as if you did the right thing. I'm assuming you left enough room for the following driver to pull in between you and the cart if he felt he needed to. How he drives is up to him, you have fulfilled your responsibilities by waiting for a safe opportunity to pass and have been a courteous and considerate to other road users.

 

[pennyturner]

TBH OP, it sounds like you drove perfectly sensibly, and the car behind you perhaps not.

For some reason some drivers go into 'overtake at all costs' mode when confronted with a carriage. It's very common for them to force oncoming traffic to have to slow or stop to avoid a head on collision. I've even seen drivers almost drive into parked cars on the opposite side of the road - like they think everything will jump out of their way if they keep going!!

If you thought about it, and did what you felt was safe, you're one of the good ones

 

[HashRouge]

There was plenty of room for the other driver to pull in in front of me had he needed to, though he opted to overtake both vehicles in one go and as a result had a pretty near miss with a car coming the other way! It was one of those situations though, where you realise you actually have no idea what the best response is! I've never met a horse and cart on the road before and it wasn't even really something I'd ever thought about until today. I still think I'd feel worried about overtaking, despite it sounding like it would have been okay to do so. I'm not very confident when it comes to overtaking other vehicles and generally don't unless I'm 110% certain I can do so safely.

 

[millikins]

TBH OP, it sounds like you drove perfectly sensibly, and the car behind you perhaps not.

For some reason some drivers go into 'overtake at all costs' mode when confronted with a carriage. It's very common for them to force oncoming traffic to have to slow or stop to avoid a head on collision. I've even seen drivers almost drive into parked cars on the opposite side of the road - like they think everything will jump out of their way if they keep going!!

If you thought about it, and did what you felt was safe, you're one of the good ones

Agree with this, I am very lucky where I am in that 99% of drivers are very courteous towards me driving the cart but merrily drive straight at oncoming vehicles when overtaking me. You did what you felt was safe, it is a bit irritating though when people won't overtake me but a lot better than squeezing past when there isn't room.

 

[rara007]

Overtake at the trot Both ridden (never thought about it!) and driven I would expect to be overtaken unless I put my hand out to say slow or turning. Usually I will pull over where safe but if it is a twisty road or a 'full width' road then I will push on to not add to the delay! We do tend to get more respect driving, I think just as you are physically bigger car drivers are less keen to squeeze you up.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I had a similar experience with a ridden horse on the road, last week. Horse was trotting into an S bend, when I first saw it a large van was just overtaking, which caused traffic on the opposite side of the road to stop. I stayed behind the horse and a BMW shot past the two of us, with no idea of what was coming round the bend, in the middle of a village with 2 roads joining the main one, which is only wide enough for 2 cars. Thank goodness there were no cars parked in the village!

 

[Equi]

If i have ever been on the road with the cart, people pass normally. Most slam on the brakes to gawp though lol

 

[CrazyMare]

Why on earth would you not pass a ridden horse that is trotting!?! My horses trot for miles, not just up to a turn or whatever.

My 4 year old in particular hates cars dawdling around behind him like monsters but doesn't care about them overtaking.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I tend to slow to a walk if I am trotting to allow a car to pass, I just prefer it, it feels like a much quicker maneuver and much safer imo. I's no real trouble to me anyway