Moment motorists startle horses by driving too fast near to them is highlighted by campaign trying to stop the idiotic behaviour

Shocking videos released by the British Horse Society (BHS) show drivers speeding dangerously close to horses, as the charity pleads for motorists to slow down.

This comes after statistics show that horses are being killed on the roads at an ‘alarming rate’ with at least one horse dying each week across the UK in 2023.

In addition to these, three equestrians were also killed last year as a result of road incidents – the highest rate of human fatalities recorded by the charity since 2018.

These figures come despite the changes to the highway code that were brought into force in 2022, which outlined clear guidance for passing horses and equestrians safely.

In total, 3,383 incidents were reported to the BHS over the course of 2023 – 85% of which occurred due to a vehicle passing by too fast or too closely.

The BHS now aims to inform drivers with their Dead Slow road safety campaign by educating road users on how dangerous passing horses too quickly and closely can be and how to pass them safely.

The charity are telling drivers to pass horses at no more than 10mph and to make sure to leave at least two meters distance.

Director of Safety at The British Horse Society, Alan Hiscox says: ‘Looking at the 2023 statistics, it is clear that a significant number of drivers are still unaware of the advice in the Highway Code and the importance of driving carefully when passing and approaching horses.

‘Far too many lives have been lost over the last 10 years and we are working hard to drastically reduce the number of incidents that take place across the UK.’

The BHS is also giving advice for equestrians to follow, which include wearing hi-vis, reflective equipment and using the proper hand signals to make other road users aware of their next move.

As well as this, the charity is asking any equestrians, and members of the public, to log any equine related safety incidents using the Horse i app.

They say the more incidents that are logged, the more the BHS can do to protect the rights of equestrians on Britain’s roads.

To learn more about The British Horse Society’s Dead Slow campaign and how you can help visit: www.bhs.org.uk/deadslow