Labour has faced growing calls to introduce changes to the Highway Code which would force drivers to slow down to 10mph when overtaking horses on the road.

At the moment, the guidance only states motorists “should” pass horses at no more than 10mph and leave plenty of space. But MPs now want wording toughened so it becomes a legal requirement rather than advice.

The issue was raised during a Westminster Hall debate on horse and rider safety, where concerns were voiced about rising incidents involving horses on Britain‘s roads.

Lee Dillon, the Liberal Democrat MP for Newbury, told MPs that the current wording does not go far enough.

“The Highway Code could go further and rather than say should go at 10mph, actually it could say must,” Mr Dillon said.

He argued stronger language would make expectations clearer for drivers and give police more power to act when rules are ignored.

The debate followed the publication of the Government’s new Road Safety Strategy, which MPs criticised for failing to include clear protections for equestrians, despite listing them as vulnerable road users.

Figures from the British Horse Society show just how dangerous roads have become for riders. The charity recorded more than 3,000 incidents involving horses on roads in 2024 alone. In those incidents, 58 horses were killed and another 97 were injured. According to the society, four out of five incidents happened because drivers passed horses too fast or too close.

Dr Danny Chambers, MP for Winchester, who also works as a veterinary surgeon, gave a blunt account of what he has seen over his career. “As a horse vet, I have stitched up and euthanised more horses than I can remember through my career that have been hit by cars,“ he told the chamber.

The problem is not limited to one area. In Devon, there have been 375 road incidents involving horses since 2020. These led to 19 horses being injured, three killed, 29 riders injured and one rider losing their life.

MPs also questioned how effective previous Highway Code changes have been. In 2022, new rules were introduced to improve safety for vulnerable road users, including horse riders. The change required drivers to allow at least two metres of space while passing the animals and recognise horses as vulnerable users.

Despite £2.4million being spent on advertising campaigns, a YouGov poll in January 2023 found only 25 per cent of adults knew the rules had changed.

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Even the Government’s own strategy admitted the message had not landed, stating “more work is needed to embed these changes”.

Mr Dillon criticised the strategy for barely mentioning horse riders and failing to set out any specific actions to protect them. He urged ministers to match future road safety education with measures in his Road Traffic Horse and Rider Safety Bill, introduced last September.

Several MPs shared stories from their constituents. Terry Jermy, the Labour MP for South West Norfolk, told the House of Commons about Paralympic athlete and military veteran Susie Rogers-Hartley, who was hit by a car while riding in 2021.

“The driver tried to pass them on a single-track road and got so close that Susie’s leg was trapped between the driver’s car and her horse,” Mr Jermy said. “She fell onto the vehicle and was subsequently dragged 20 metres along the road, suffering a head injury and a cracked elbow.“

Ms Rogers-Hartley later summed up the outcome in stark terms, stating: “The driver got an awareness course, I got a dead horse and thousands of pounds in vets’ bills.”

MPs also warned years of council funding cuts have left bridleways in poor condition, forcing riders onto busy roads.

Responding to the debate, Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood said the Government recognised the concerns and would work with groups such as the British Horse Society.

She said: “I stress the importance of road safety around animals. I know how vital horses are to rural areas, such as West Berkshire, and I have been very sorry to hear about collisions involving horses and riders.

“The Department for Transport introduced the hierarchy of road users, which sets out that those who can cause the greatest harm in the event of a collision bear the greatest responsibility to reduce the potential threat that they pose to others. The Highway Code changes included strengthening the guidance on safe passing distances and speeds when overtaking horse riders.”

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