Drivers may want to brush up on the Highway Code as significant changes to the motoring manual could be introduced to address safety concerns. A new petition to Parliament is demanding revisions to clarify how drivers should interpret hand signals used by horse riders.
Petition Calls for Clearer Guidance
The petition argues that the current Highway Code lacks a photographic page of horse riders' hand signals, leading to potential confusion. It states: "Add a photographic page of horse riders' hand signals used while on the road to clarify urgently for safety reasons what is referred to in two sections of the Highway Code, namely section 215 and the one on Signals to other Road users, so that they align with what is taught to horse riders."
Specific Gestures Highlighted
The petition outlines that horse riders are taught to use an extended arm moving up and down as a request for drivers to slow down. It notes that Section 215 of the Highway Code explicitly says: "Look out for horse riders' and horse drivers' signals and heed a request to slow down or stop." However, the code does not show what this signal looks like, and a photograph of a motorcyclist elsewhere suggests the same gesture means the rider is slowing down. This inconsistency, the petition claims, "could cause dangerous confusion."
Current Highway Code Rules on Horses
Rule 215 of the Highway Code offers guidance on horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles. Drivers are instructed to be particularly careful when approaching, overtaking, passing, or moving away from these road users. The rule states: "Always pass wide and slowly. When you see a horse on a road, you should slow down to a maximum of 10 mph. Be patient, do not sound your horn or rev your engine. When safe to do so, pass wide and slow, allowing at least two metres of space."
Additional Advice
The section on hand signals, as quoted by the petition, reminds drivers that horse riders are often children and may ride in double file when escorting a young or inexperienced horse or rider. It says: "Look out for horse riders' and horse drivers' signals and heed a request to slow down or stop. Take great care and treat all horses as a potential hazard; they can be unpredictable, despite the efforts of their rider/driver." The rule also notes: "Remember there are three brains at work when you pass a horse; the rider's, the driver's and the horse's. Do not forget horses are flight animals and can move incredibly quickly if startled."
The regulation further sets out that feral or semi-feral ponies in locations such as the New Forest, Exmoor, or Dartmoor should be given the same consideration as ridden horses. The petition is available to sign on the government website.
