Riding on 'dangerous' roads - solutions?

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High upon a hillside
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After reading a post below, I wondered if people had any ideas that would make riding on roads safer. I know that hi-vis is good obviously, but not much good round blind bends with high hedges unfortunately
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I know there are warning signs for horses and wondered if we could make changes to these. Maybe have the triangular warning sign with a horse on before certain sections of roads (especially narrower, bendy bits) but then as you ride past, you can press a button to make it flash. Button would be high enough up for riders, and out of reach for kids.
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The sign would then flash for say 10mins (average time for the rider to be out of the 'danger' zone on a certain road) and then go off.

As drivers don't really pay much attention to warning signs, perhaps if it could be made to flash, they would then know that a horse was indeed up ahead? Is this a ridiculous idea, or a good one? Its probably way too expensive, but could be solar powered like the speeding flash up signs and maybe funded by local riders if need be?

Any thoughts?
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Nice idea but....

Signs on the public highway are the responsibility of the County Council's Highways department. It is possible to get permission to put signs up for advertising and similar, but there are a lot of regulations and type approval rules surrounding them.

It might be possible for a group of riders to raise some funds to 'sponsor' a more conventional warning sign, as the Councils are all pretty short on money, and unless a lot of weight is put on them by Councillors or the Police, they don't really have the time or resources.

Two options: Sponsor a sign or hassle your local elected member. Remembering of course that Councillors wish to be seen to be acting on important safety matters (which most genuinely care about), as they wish to be re-elected.

An alternative would just be to ban all cars, vans, trucks etc..... hold on, I wouldn't be able to drive to the horses if we did that
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I think it is a good idea, but not sure whether the council would !!! Anything to improve safety for horse riders. I can tell you it is deadly around here. Very rare I go out on the busy main roads, tend to stick to the quieter roads early in the morning.
 
Unfortunately though it would appear there needs to be a reason to put more traffic calming methods/warning signs. Our parish council recently requested a road that is 60mph for a stretch of about 2 miles be reduced to 40mph as it passes houses, two farms, a scout camp and a golf course. At either either of the road the speed limit is 40mph at one end and 30mph at the pther so you'd think reducing this short and dangerous stretch (it is hilly and has dangerous bends) would not be hard and actually be quite sensible.

The council's response - "There hasn't been enough accidents to warrant it"!!!

Seeing there were two or three accidents on this bit of road last year I take that as being basically someone has to actually die before they'd consider doing anything. It is ridiculous - surely they'd want to prevent serious accidents not wait until after they've happened?
 
On the face of it it seems a good idea however although the councils have the authority to site the signs, the design, shape & size etc of any road sign is controlled by law. To alter this would need Parliament to act
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The local councils however do site digital display signs warning drivers to slow down, you know the ones which say 'Slow Down' or indicate your alleged speed? Possibly those could be adapted?
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I think there woudl have to be considerably more effort put into educating drivers regarding the hazards of driving on country roads. This would be for the benefit of all users as I worry about forlorn looking walkers/joggers who think they are safe walking on the country roads near us.
I know lotsof people who think motorway driving is dangerous, I think there are lots of people who think they are much safer zooming round on country roads but don't realise how much more dangerous this is.

I think the other solution is to open up more of the countryside to all users. The farming community may not like it but there is LOADS of safe space around which would get horses/walkers/cyclists etc off the roads - no-one is allowed to use it though.
 
Hmm, yes education probably is the key, although sadly I think many people do not really think about the dangers of driving until they are in an accident
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Sometimes I have to be a passenger when colleagues are driving, and some just do not pay attention, even failing to notice a rather large tractor just round a bend on one occasion, despite it being visible over the hedge
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I too feel very sorry for joggers and cyclists on 'country' roads - I give them a much respect as a horse if I'm honest, and only pass when its safe (having had a cyclist fall right in front of my wheels - I am very cautious!)
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Using Hi Viz is really the only thing to be done to make actual riding on the roads safer. I don't think drivers take that much notice of signs. They do take notice of speed cameras even if we all hate them.

As for opening up the countryside - have you heard of Toll Rides? The Toll Rides Off Road Trust, (www.tollrides.org.uk) which is a charity which helps riders create off-road riding routes for exactly this reason. They are very big in Kent and the South East and have routes and members in several other counties as well.
This is where riders get together and approach land-owners and negotiate a riding route. Riders pay a membership fee and the money goes to the landowners/farmers as an annual payment.

Some people don't like this idea as it isn't a right of way and isn't permanent, but for lots of riders it is an excellent solution to a very tricky problem and opens up routes that they would never ever have in any other circumstance.
 
Lower set speed limits on country lanes, which would also have to be enforced.

The drivers most in a rush are diverting down the little windy lanes SO they can put their foot down - and for the most part legally as the national speed limit's 60 - or when the do break laws, they know they'll get away with it as the cops are sat on the main roads.
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In Newmarket the race horses have to cross the road to get to the gallops and have 'horse /pedestrian crossing' traffic lights. The riders can wave their whips through a kind of box(I think !)which in turn turns the lights on so obviously you can have some exceptions to the norm................
 
people don't notice signs.......... I asked for another to be erected near us and then realised we had one about 100yrds from my house but it is situated on the opposite side of the road (ie on the drivers right hand side whereas most signs are on the left) and just before a bad bend so I think you are concentrating on anything coming the other way rather than looking at signs on you right.
 
Or maybe a sign with a speed camera on? That usually slows people down
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Maybe we should set people off on foot down country lanes they use as rat runs during the rush hour, just so they can feel what 60mph feels like from the ground
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I think the flashing sign is a great idea - the only problem is , certainly on the road I'm thinking of, there are lots of points of entry from farms and other quieter lanes so you would need lots of buttons. It would probably be too expensive for local councils to manage. Having said that, we have one of those flashing speed signs that you set off if you go too fast on the road,(I'm still trying to set it off on my boy, but I don't think we've got past about 7mph yet
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) so maybe it wouldn't be too much of a leap!
 
There was talk a while ago about local councils reducing speeds on B roads to 50mph. Which would be great for riders and cyclists. My solution on any road is to ride with a lunging whip with the lash cut off and stick it out into the road whenever a car comes. Forces them to keep their distance even if they dont slow down. I wouldnt dream of hacking out without it now.
 
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