Joint June Bank Holiday Initiative Encourages Drivers to ‘Pass Wide and Slow’ Around Horses

[Wandering Eyes]

The Road Safety Authority (RSA), and An Garda Síochána (AGS) have teamed up with Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) in an effort to inform motorists how to share the roads safely with horses. Drivers are being urged to pass horses “wide and slow” but also others who use the roads.

The initiative features a series of videos to help motorists familiarise themselves with best practice when they encounter horses on the road and in areas with high equine traffic, such as around riding schools and racing yards. Motorists should always slow down, pass wide and obey the hand signals of the rider and never use the horn, rev the engine or flash the lights.

“There is a shared responsibility for road safety from all road users so we are delighted to partner with the Road Safety Authority with their horse road safety appeal,” Suzanne Eade, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, said. “The videos have lots of useful guidelines to explain to motorists how to share the roads safely with horses and their riders. I would encourage everyone to familiarise themselves with the guidelines, especially as the busy summer period approaches. We all have a part to play in sharing the road safely.”

Denis Duggan, CEO of Horse Sport Ireland, added, “We are delighted that this series of videos is now available and will help raise awareness of what to do when road users meet horse riders on the road. Horses are live animals and can be unpredictable, so it is important that all road users familiarise themselves with the rules of the road.”

To view the new video series, click here. The RSA guidelines for 'Horse Road Safety on Public Roads' are available here.

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