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Continuing the Push for Safer Roads for Horses and Riders
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Yesterday, in the House of Commons, I presented a paper petition calling for stronger protections for horses and riders on our roads.
This is not a new issue, and it is not a one-off effort. It is part of a sustained campaign I have been leading to improve safety for horses and riders, including securing a Westminster Hall debate, EDM around road safety awareness, and introducing my Road Traffic (Horse and Rider Safety) Bill.
This latest step is about keeping the pressure on and ensuring the voices of residents continue to be heard at the highest level.
The petition had support from many of my colleagues across Parliament, including Helen Morgan, Helen Maguire, Tim Farron, Jack Rankin, Steve Darling, John Milne and Liz Jarvis.
The petition highlights a clear and ongoing problem: horses and riders remain at risk on UK roads, often because drivers pass too quickly or too closely, or simply lack awareness of how to behave safely around them.
For many across the UK this is part of everyday life. Horse riding is central to our rural communities, our local economy, and our heritage, yet too many riders feel unsafe sharing the roads.
We have heard too many stories of near misses, injuries, and, tragically, fatalities. Campaigns like “Dead Slow” have helped raise awareness, but awareness alone is not enough.
This petition calls for practical, common-sense changes: making safe passing distances and speeds a legal requirement, improving driver education, and embedding equestrian safety into driving tests.
Progress on this issue will not come from a single debate or a single bill. It requires sustained pressure, and that is exactly what I will continue to provide.
Everyone deserves to feel safe on our roads. That must include horses and riders.
