Was it fair for a truck to push me out the way whilst walking next to a horse?

C

Coop

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 September 2010
Messages
344
Location
in the mud
Visit site
Just had a horrid experience, local livery yard owner (!) renowned for speeding nearly knocked me over whilst walking next to a horse on a main road.

My friend was riding out and I was on the pavement on the other side but came across some parked cars that blocked the pavement so safely crossed the road to walk next to horses shoulder.

Stayed there as two more parked cars further up. Local livery yard owner with truck comes speeding round the corner. Full hi viz. We are nearly at the tail end of the second car. He waits for two seconds. No need to trot, so we think. We both smile and before we finish going through the parked cars (bearing in mind we have the right of way on our side) he pushes through and nearly clips me. I staggered to one side grabbing the horse.

In shock, my friend who would not have expected any car to squeeze through that gap, even if I wasn't there shouted 'you could have waited a second!'


Bearing in mind he just brushed past my jacket, he only stopped and got out of the car and said, 'YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN WALKING IN THE ROAD!!!!!

I'm sorry, but I find that seriously disturbing. It really shook us up and you think of all the things to say afterwards ie 'so your admitting to doing hit and runs if a walker gets in your way'.

I feel like reporting the incident.

Sorry to go on but that was seriously dangerous, but the question is as above, was I allowed on the road and although horse had right of way was he allowed to do this, surely not? xxx
 
Whether you had right of way is a moot point, hitting people with your car is generally frowned upon! If you have a half decent local copper (neighbourhood team or whatever they're called now) they could pay him a call to explain this to him.
 
Oh right, so if a lady is pushing a push chair in the road due to the pavement being illegally blocked, of course he has the right to push them out of the way, and be rude to them to boot :mad:

I would be reporting him pronto.
 
Please report it, our local horsey policewoman told me always report it because sometimes if they get enough complaints about the same person they can act. People make you sooo angry sometimes, thank goodness you weren't hurt:mad:
 
Sounds true to form! I had a pony on loan once that had been hit by a horsebox on its way to a local competition centre. The driver couldn't wait a minute or two for its novicy rider to get out of the way and left the pony unsafe in traffic for ever more.

Report him - you were a vulnerable road user, to use the jargon, and you weren't jay walking.
 
You should defo report it he was in the wrong! there is nothing wrong with you being at the side of the horse many people do halk out with someone on the ground especially if they are on youngsters! it is people like him who can cause serious accidents, they need to have some respect!
 
Report him. That's appalling for all he knew you were walking along side for a reason. What about those of us who are leading children about or walking with those just off lead rein and I often walk with my mum and her nappy mare. What a t*****!
 
Glad you're ok. I agree, you MUST report it.... in doing so, you might just prevent a repetition of his behaviour that may injure (or worse) another horse or rider.
 
As others have said - report him immediately.

I always walk besides my 9 year old when he's hacking his pony as he's not yet ready 100% to not have me there on the ground in case something happens.

Is it acceptable if a vehicle clips me because I am walking in the road? No, I don't think so. That would amount to an RTA.
 
Agree with all thanks for the support.

He is known for being a nasty piece of work and never slows down. He got banned for driving because of drinking and his license was sadly reinstated because he does farm work. Its obvious he should not be on the road.

Once he turned up to a local show with a trailer on the back with 2 ponies in and thought it was so funny to tear over speed bumps on the way in. Saddo.

I have been thinking about it all day and it has affected me greatly, the only thing thats putting me off is he is known for being terribly nasty.


Like you say, to think its ok to push a pedestrian out of the way, let alone a horse is pretty disgusting.

He is the type who has an answer for everything, always with a smug look on his face.

He has been terrorising our little Sussex village for years.

Trouble, didn't get number plate as truck filthy, but I do know his name and he is up the local pub frequently.
 
No it isn't acceptable and yes you should report it, to both the police and BHS.
But as I read it (and I accept that I could be wrong), the parked cars were on your side of the road. So actually your friend, who was on the horse, should have waited for the car to pass before attempting to pass the parked cars herself. As a pedestrian you have right of way in any situation.
 
Report him. As a vulnerable road user (pedestrian) he should give way to you. Whether or not you should be there is irrelevant! He clipped you with his vehicle - next time he does it the person he hits might not get away so lightly as you did.

Glad you are okay!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top