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Rochdale On Line Article re passing wide and slow
An article was posted on the Rochdale on Line Website on the 29 Sept 2019 and is replicated here.  Local bridleways group, Rochdale and Bury Bridleways Association has praised a police exercise educating motorists on how to pass horses safely. GMP’s Mounted Unit had a successful day out in Bolton on Wednesday 11 September, during their Safer Pass Initiative in partnership with The British Horse Society. In just an hour and a half, the initiative saw 21 cars stopped for passing a horse too closely and one car seized for having no insurance. When passing a horse, motorists should always pass wide and slowly – slowing to a maximum of 15mph and passing with least a car’s width, if possible, of space between you and the horse and rider. Alarming statistics from The British Horse Society have revealed nearly two horses a week are being killed on UK roads, with 845 incidents involving horses and drivers reported last year. In the last year alone, 87 horses and four people have been tragically killed whilst riding on the roads and 73% of incidents reported occurred due to vehicles passing by too closely. Gill Morrell, Treasurer of the Rochdale and Bury Bridleways Association, said: “We are really pleased to see that this important safety issue is being treated seriously by GMP. “They are targeting areas of hotspots for future initiatives and so it is important that all horse riders report any near misses to both the police and the British Horse Society, which is compiling statistics for future use. “This is the second time that GMP have addressed this important issue, as they carried out a campaign a few years ago educating motorists that the correct speed to pass horses on the road is 15mph. This enables motorists sufficient time to react to the potential unpredictable reaction caused by the flight instinct in any horse. “This initiative can only help support the education that Rochdale and Bury Bridleways Association tries to convey as it continues to work closely with councils to promote and secure safe off-road riding for all vulnerable members of the community, including horse riders and cyclists. Alan Hiscox, Director of Safety at The British Horse Society, added: “Working with GMP’s Mounted Unit and their Safer Pass Initiative is a brilliant way to highlight the dangers that equestrians face on our roads. “By collaborating on this new campaign we hope more drivers will be aware that when they are faced with a horse on the road they should slow down to a maximum of 15mph, be patient and ensure they pass the horse wide and slow, before driving slowly away. “We also encourage riders to play their part by wearing high visibility clothing at all times and by thanking all road users that pass by safely.” Rochdale and Bury Bridleways Association is an award-winning local voluntary organisation representing local equestrian enthusiasts of all ages, abilities and social background. It has been working to protect bridleways and by-ways of the area and create new safe off-road routes for horse riders for over 30 years. You can report indents to GMP and the British Horse Society at: Date article online: 27/09/2019 |
Tiger Traps Installed along Woodtop
In efforts to try to stop illegal use of the path by motor cycles and quad bikes, the Norden Councillors have worked with Norden Area Forum to provide Tiger Traps and Kissing gates both on the path from Roods Lane and at the end close to School Lane. The Councillors will be observing whether this does reduce or eliminate they illegal usage. The installations are part of a medium-term project which was initiated through the Norden Area Forum and is progressively reducing ease of access for off-road vehicles to local woodland trails and bridleways. The project came forward as a result of the huge numbers of trials bikes and quads which have been being ridden through the woodland, causing danger to responsible people who hope to enjoy the area for a range of recreational activities such as walking, running, cycling, horse riding and dog walking. |
BHS Accident Reports Map
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You may recall that we were encouraging you to report any accidents or dog attacks to the BHS. Well they have now collated their information and portray it on an interactive map. If you are interested in seeing it you can find it at http://www.horseaccidents.org.uk/View_Incident_Locations.aspx Information on the ma can then be used as evidence when safety measures are being discussed. |
Advice from BHS on Hat standards
You only get one head - make sure you look after yours!Rule 49 of the Highway Code states: With care, a good hat will last several years. Do not be tempted to leave your hat in direct sunlight – the shelf in the back of your car is definitely not a place to keep it! Let it dry naturally if it gets wet and don’t be tempted to put it on the radiator. Don’t drop it, or kick it around the floor. Each time it receives any impact, some of the protective properties will be used up and just when you want them to keep you safe, you will find that they may no longer be there! Manufacturers all make hats in slightly different shapes to each other, so there is something for everyone. Whether you choose a really fancy, top of the range hat is unimportant – it should meet one of the standards above and, preferably, it should also have a quality assurance mark firmly fastened on its inner alongside the standard that the hat is tested to. If you buy a hat that has been designed specifically for a child, you are unlikely to have VAT included in the price. Hats for children are made in all but the very largest hat sizes, as children’s heads generally stop growing when they reach around 13 years of age. This information was identified by a survey undertaken on Eton schoolboys who are required to wear formal hats, as opposed to soft caps. There are also hats on the market that are very economical to buy – but do ensure that they fit the purpose for which they are intended and they meet a recognised standard. You only have one head – keep it as safe as you can and wear a hat that is fastened each and every time you ride out. Please note:CE Mark: All hats MUST be CE marked – that is, declaring compliance with the regulations implementing the European Community Directive 89.626EC (Statutory Instrument 1992 no: 3139). All hats to the above standards will have a CE mark firmly attached inside them. KITEMARK BSI (British Standards Institute): The Kitemark is the registered trademark of the British Standards Institute and can only be affixed to products certified by them. Kitemark certification is voluntary and can be withdrawn at any time. It is a Quality Assurance Mark. BSI Kitemarked hats to the European Standards will be stamped BSEN1384. When the Kitemark is displayed on the hat it:
Hats tested elsewhere in the European Union may be tested to EN1384 standard; however, they will not carry the BSI Kitemark strongly recommended by the BHS and many insurance companies. Quality Assurance: Any standard hat with a Quality Assurance Mark (such as a BSI Kitemark or an SEI mark) can be viewed as safer than a hat to the same standard without. (Statement taken from BETA ‘What to Wear’ publication) Competitions and events: Riders competing under the rules of an equestrian discipline, the Pony Club or British Riding Clubs should refer to their respective rule books to find which standards are acceptable under their specific rules |
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