Reflective riding clothing becoming law?

Not sure if this is true but have to say I'd approve if so. Summer is coming and so 75% of our yard will start riding without it again as if they're magically easier to see in bright sunlight :-(
 
suffolkmare said:
Hmmm, Hats protect riders, Hi viz protects drivers (from having a horse land on the car)...educating people about how to drive safely on rural roads needs addressing!
Click to expand...

Sadly, there are some you never will be able to educate, you could include in the driving test an entire section on how to drive safely on rural roads and it would not help in the least. Bottom line, don't trust anyone else with your life, or the life of your horse. Kit up and stay safe.
 
i never venture out without hi viz. many liveries at my yard hack on dark horses with black clothing & I just don't understand why they don't want to wear hi viz?! It mustn't be 'cool' to be seen wearing it. I think it should be law for all walkers, cyclists, & motor bike riders & horse riders who use the road to wear hi viz
 
Yep that's the one, I seem to have been blocked because I challenged her claim, that it was becoming 'law soon' ��
 
I think it certainly should be law under road safety regulations - it should be law for cyclists as well.

I never go anywhere without at the very minimum a tabard for me and leg bands for horse (for summer) winter I'm lit up like the proverbial Christmas tree.
 
Who would be classed as a walker? Somebody out for a stroll in the countryside or somebody coming out of their front door and going to visit their next door neighbour? They both use the road. A law like that would mean everybody wearing some sort of hivis most of the time, just in case they popped out. When laws are made common sense goes. I agree with HiVis and wear it whether riding and walking with ponies, also cycling. It does make sense to make it law, but needs a lot of thought too.:-)
 
The manifesto for the horse has been developed by a number of equine related businesses and charities under the umberalla of the Equine Sector Council for Health and Welfare prior to the general election to build awareness throughout MPs of the key issues which need addressing in the equine sector and hopefully bring horse matters to the fore.

One of the recommendations made within the manifesto (which can be sent to your local MP using templates available on many charity websites) is to make compulsory the wearing of protective headgear and hi-viz clothing by all riders of all ages on the roads. It also campaigns for VAT to be removed from the cost of riding hats - as it is with cycle and motorcycle helmets.

This is a current campaign but not imminent law.

A copy of the manifesto (a short 2 page document written in plain english) can be found here http://www.bhs.org.uk/~/media/BHS/F...eneral Election Manifesto for the Horse.ashx (this particular one is a BHS link but it can be found elsewhere too)
 
If this makes sense, then so does legislating for anyone setting foot on a road to be wearing hi-viz. Then when someone runs over a child on their way to school, the driver can blame the child or parent - much better than asking drivers to take responsibility for their actions.

IME the best safety measure you can take as a rider on the road is to ride well out into the middle of the lane until the driver behind has slowed. Then move over to the left as a courtesy if it is safe for them to overtake. This makes no difference to careful drivers (who would slow anyway - whether you're wearing hi-viz or not), but makes the more aggressive ones (who couldn't give a fig what you're wearing) take a bit more care.
 
Agreed, Misty05 - and sometimes it is better to require people to be more responsible for their actions that to compel behaviour under law.
 
The concept is flawed anyway. The most important thing is that the horse wears hi vis - not the rider. Thus if the rider is ditched, the loose horse is more visible on the road and marginally less likely to cause a disaster.
 
We've also got to bear in mind that the power of high viz does not magically make cars able to see you from around a blind bend, nor does wearing a yellow jumper with no reflective parts make you visible in the darkness....

I also wear high viz and reflectives when hacking, and think that everyone should do, but having met both of the above scenarios when driving recently (thankfully I wasn't going quickly!) I think that some people need a healthy dose of common sense instead of laws about attire.
 
Even if it were true, I'd be in support of it. I always at the very least wear my Lunarider Guilet, and the pony has a hi-viz numnah and reflective covers on the reins. Christmas trees! :D
 
JFTD said:
The concept is flawed anyway. The most important thing is that the horse wears hi vis - not the rider. Thus if the rider is ditched, the loose horse is more visible on the road and marginally less likely to cause a disaster.
Click to expand...

It is equally as important that both wear hi viz, if the rider comes off down a bridlepath and horse tanks off , yes horse needs hi viz to help stop it getting smacked in to by a driver but the rider will be less visible and if hurt and laying in the woods/grass/ditch without any hi viz, stands less chance of being spotted. I have spoken to Thames Valley police officers who say hi viz is essential for horse and rider as they have had helicopters up looking for lost, possibly injured riders and they have been spotted much quicker due to rider wearing hi viz.
 
cremedemonthe said:
It is equally as important that both wear hi viz, if the rider comes off down a bridlepath and horse tanks off , yes horse needs hi viz to help stop it getting smacked in to by a driver but the rider will be less visible and if hurt and laying in the woods/grass/ditch without any hi viz, stands less chance of being spotted. I have spoken to Thames Valley police officers who say hi viz is essential for horse and rider as they have had helicopters up looking for lost, possibly injured riders and they have been spotted much quicker due to rider wearing hi viz.
Click to expand...

Well yes, obviously, but that's a personal issue - not a public risk issue. People are welcome to take whatever risks they like with their own lives as far as I'm concerned - but risking other people's isn't really on.
 
There have been one or two Petitions on the Gov Website and all have been thrown out. Do you think that cyclists and motor bikers should wear hi viz as law too? Maybe even walkers? I agree with Hi viz, but a law is a bit too much really.
 
JFTD said:
Well yes, obviously, but that's a personal issue - not a public risk issue. People are welcome to take whatever risks they like with their own lives as far as I'm concerned - but risking other people's isn't really on.
Click to expand...

It's not personal anymore JFTD.

Insurance companies... Particularly the worst ones at paying out... Will stipulate that not wearing highly visible clothing when riding on the roads will render the cover completely useless.

It has ruined my friends life.

Look you idiots. Just wear something that resembles Bertie Bassett. It's not hard. Sadly, You and you horse are not!
 
tallyho! said:
It's not personal anymore JFTD.

Insurance companies... Particularly the worst ones at paying out... Will stipulate that not wearing highly visible clothing when riding on the roads will render the cover completely useless.

It has ruined my friends life.

Look you idiots. Just wear something that resembles Bertie Bassett. It's not hard. Sadly, You and you horse are not!
Click to expand...

Er, TallyHo, did you even read my posts? It's absolutely personal whether a RIDER decides to put hi vis on the RIDER in case they need to be rescued. It is far more important for public safety to put hi vis on the horse - in my opinion. And I'm not really up for arguing with you on that one, especially if your line of argument is simply to insult anyone who disagrees with you.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top