Caution urged for both riders and motorists (From Gazette & Herald)

Caution urged for both riders and motorists

A WARNING has gone out to both motorists and riders to take more care on the roads - or face the consequences.

The warning has come from the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.

President David Marshall said: "More and more riders are now using the roads as they make their way to bridlepaths - sometimes with tragic consequences.

"Around 3,000 riders are involved in road accidents every year, some of which are fatal to riders or other road users. One in five horses are killed in accidents or so badly injured that they have to be put down."

Mr Marshall urged riders and motorists to be "doubly cautious" and make allowances for the unpredictable nature of horses.

Backing the appeal, former Metropolitan Police chief inspector Alan Bingle pointed out that more riders use busy roads to reach bridlepaths because other routes have been cut off from their stables by new housing and road schemes.

He said: "Drivers need to slow down and give as wide a berth as possible, and riders should be sure that both they and their horses are safe to be on the roads."

The British Horse Society introduced a riding and road safety test 20 years ago, and 100,000 riders have passed that test since its introduction.

Sheila Hardy, the society's head of safety, said: "More than half of those who take the test are leisure riders but we believe that all riders owe a duty of care to themselves, their horses and other road users."

Updated: 12:58 Wednesday, October 01, 2003