Safety campaigners are calling for support for petitions to help make roads safer for riders
A number of local and national campaigns are calling for more support for petitions to improve safety for riders on the road.
Two petitions were launched after an accident in Surrey’s Richmond Park in August. A pony was killed in the accident when a van ploughed into a group of riders.
The rider, 18-year-old Nichola Fox, was badly injured. She has had reconstructive face surgery and is still unable to eat properly. Another pony injured in the same incident is still receiving treatment.
One of the petitions was organised by Stag Lodge Stables in Richmond, where the ponies were based. The second petition, which has been set up by one of the yard’s riders, is at www.gopetition.co.uk
In the meantime, Richmond Park has announced that it hopes to introduce traffic controlling methods in the park within the next few weeks. These will be in the form of specially designed “alligator teeth”, which allow cars to travel only in one direction.
There are also a number of petitions being organised by the safety campaigning group, “Drive With Caution”.
These include:
- asking for a law to reduce speed limits by 50%
- asking for a police camera programme to be dedicated to horses and riders on the roads.
The Drive With Caution campaign is also compiling an accident report file and aims to find out whether people believe reflective clothing should be made compulsory.
For more information visit :www.drivewithcaution
For more details of the safety campaign being run by Horse & Hound/ HORSE magazines and the British Horse Society, visit: www.horse-and-road-safety.com
