TigerTail
Well-Known Member
who happens to be the driving instructor who overtook myself and friend very dangerously last weekend
..
To Mr ******,
I am writing to complain about the manner in which either yourself or one of your pupils over took a friend and I on horseback on the 15/12/2013 at approx 12.45.
It was on the way into *********, on the blind bend just before *** Lane. Your vehicle over took us on said bend, despite oncoming traffic and came so close I could have kicked your car had I not been otherwise occupied stopping my horse from doing the same thing.
Whether it was you driving or a pupil with your supervising this was clearly a ridiculously dangerous thing to do, not only for myself, friend and horses but for you and your passenger and the oncoming traffic who you couldnt see until you over took us.
The Highway Code, with which you should be familiar, says to ''Always pass horses wide and slow, be aware that horse riders are often children (my friend is 13) and Take great care and treat all horses as a potential hazard; they can be unpredictable, despite the efforts of their rider/driver.'' You failed on all these counts when you passed us last Sunday.
A horse is an exceedingly reactive flight animal and as riders we are very vulnerable on todays busy roads. Its is not only us and the car in question in danger, it is the other road users or pedestrians who may be injured by the animal taking off due to someone passing to close and too fast. We would prefer not to have to ride on the roads but in this area there is very limited access to bridleways, all of which are reached by going past ****** which is a very fast stretch of road.
In future please be aware that passing wide and slow means under 20mph and on the other side of the road, just as when you are overtaking another car, horses have very long back legs and are able to kick backwards and sideways without a hesitation if they feel threatened.
When driving towards us 20-25 mph is ample, being aware that as you go through puddles, over grates etc your car makes sudden unexpected noises which can alarm the horse. Do not get level with us then accelerate away, wait until you are a little in front as again the sudden roar of the engine is very upsetting.
As riders we make every effort to be safe and seen, both us and the horses are plastered in hi viz, we ride single file to keep traffic disruption to a minimum and always thank careful and considerate drivers. As a Driving Instructor it would be helpful if you could educate your pupils as to the nature of horses and the correct manner of passing them on the roads, rather than encouraging dangerous practices which lead to so many unnecessary avoidable accidents.
To Mr ******,
I am writing to complain about the manner in which either yourself or one of your pupils over took a friend and I on horseback on the 15/12/2013 at approx 12.45.
It was on the way into *********, on the blind bend just before *** Lane. Your vehicle over took us on said bend, despite oncoming traffic and came so close I could have kicked your car had I not been otherwise occupied stopping my horse from doing the same thing.
Whether it was you driving or a pupil with your supervising this was clearly a ridiculously dangerous thing to do, not only for myself, friend and horses but for you and your passenger and the oncoming traffic who you couldnt see until you over took us.
The Highway Code, with which you should be familiar, says to ''Always pass horses wide and slow, be aware that horse riders are often children (my friend is 13) and Take great care and treat all horses as a potential hazard; they can be unpredictable, despite the efforts of their rider/driver.'' You failed on all these counts when you passed us last Sunday.
A horse is an exceedingly reactive flight animal and as riders we are very vulnerable on todays busy roads. Its is not only us and the car in question in danger, it is the other road users or pedestrians who may be injured by the animal taking off due to someone passing to close and too fast. We would prefer not to have to ride on the roads but in this area there is very limited access to bridleways, all of which are reached by going past ****** which is a very fast stretch of road.
In future please be aware that passing wide and slow means under 20mph and on the other side of the road, just as when you are overtaking another car, horses have very long back legs and are able to kick backwards and sideways without a hesitation if they feel threatened.
When driving towards us 20-25 mph is ample, being aware that as you go through puddles, over grates etc your car makes sudden unexpected noises which can alarm the horse. Do not get level with us then accelerate away, wait until you are a little in front as again the sudden roar of the engine is very upsetting.
As riders we make every effort to be safe and seen, both us and the horses are plastered in hi viz, we ride single file to keep traffic disruption to a minimum and always thank careful and considerate drivers. As a Driving Instructor it would be helpful if you could educate your pupils as to the nature of horses and the correct manner of passing them on the roads, rather than encouraging dangerous practices which lead to so many unnecessary avoidable accidents.
