Daughters horse hit a car

cyclonebri1

yorkie2 wrote: »

Is that an admission you put speed over safety?

If the road is not wide enough for horses, it's not wide enough for cars
I refer you to the Highway Code.

I note your post has 3 messages of 'thanks'; makes a mockery of the thanks system, which may as well not exist!

That's the 1st sensible thing you've posted on this topic.

For quite a while I have openly said that the thanks button should be reserved for just that, to acknowledge a helpfull post.

What is needed is an "I Agree" button to run alongside, because that is how the thanks button is used at present.

I'm sorry if my view and others doesn't conform to your interpretation of the HC, you still haven't defined how much space you feel is appropriate??

And check again, the op didn't for a second blame the car for the accident. You seem to have read something into this that didn't occour.:(

alastairq

Ok, smart !!!! define how much space and lets think country lanes here not A roads. Just how wide is a horse when it's broadside accross the road, comprendez?
You also fail to comprehend that there's a world of difference between overtaking and passing, I thought someone as pedantic as you would realise that.

in the end, pedantry is what counts when in a Court....not what you or I think should be acceptable.

if...there is insufficient width of carriageway available to pass [overtake....one and the same thing]....allowing the requisite amount of room , then the passing vehicle's speed should be reduced accordingly whilst passing.

simple solution, ask anybody learning to drive a lorry.....move close, slow down......move away, speed up...

If there is absolutely no room to pass, then wait until there is.

This also applies when passing cyclists, slow motorcycles, pedestrians..or even me!

Might not fit in with some drivers' ethos, but in the end, it is the criteria applied when judgement being passed.

Flyboy152

yorkie2 wrote: »

Is that an admission you put speed over safety?

If the road is not wide enough for horses, it's not wide enough for cars
I refer you to the Highway Code.

I note your post has 3 messages of 'thanks'; makes a mockery of the thanks system, which may as well not exist!

What distance does the highway code give as a safe margin, to pass a horse?

alastairq

215
Horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles. Be particularly careful of horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles especially when overtaking. Always pass wide and slowly. Horse riders are often children, so take extra care and remember riders may ride in double file when escorting a young or inexperienced horse or rider. 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.

by 'wide'...it seems reasonable that a driver gives a horse as much room as possible.

On a narrow carriageway, that might mean, taking one's offside as far to the right as possible.

On a wider carriageway, then that suggests taking one's vehicle far over to the right, again, [as is reasonable] to leave the best possible distance between left side and horse.

Also there is an emphasis on passing slowly....


If the reader of this were riding a horse, on a 'quiet' country lane....just think how far over you'd like a passing car to be?

It all seems so simple....but to quantify 'reasonable', one needs to be able to totally justify one's speed and road position when passing the horse...and whether that justification falls in line with the Highway Code, and thus would satisfy a Court that one was being 'reasonable'.

If in any doubt, slow down further, move away further....

Careful_with_that_Axe

Some drivers have no common sense when driving around horses. Back when I used to ride, I had a car pass me leaving a large gap and slowly; that was great, but his radio was on at huge volume and my horse bolted.

Whatever you are passing on the road, you should use care and consideration.

asbokid

Flyboy152 wrote: »

What distance does the highway code give as a safe margin, to pass a horse?

There is no strict answer to that. It depends on the size of the horse.

The World's Smallest Stallion (20" high)


If only there were all that small,
4x4 drivers could simply drive over the top of them.

butterfly72

alastairq wrote: »

by 'wide'...it seems reasonable that a driver gives a horse as much room as possible.

I'd agree with this. Horses spook very easily. When I had horses I used to have to ride out on the roads. My normally calm horse one day spooked at a bit of litter on the floor:o and ended up backing into a car which was passing very close. I'm not sure if it was my lucky day but it was a local vet's car.. so he should have known better.. but he checked over my horse, gave me his card and went on his way with a huge dent in his car!

Yes, there are rude riders out there but sometimes as someone above mentioned you can't always take your hand off the reins to wave a thank you. A nod normally suffices. But as for rudeness, so what, there are rude cyclists, drivers, people, walkers....... its no reason not to give a wide berth.

I'm surprised by all the anger and debate on here. Just move over, as slowly and quietly and as far as you can. Then you are on your way. Simples!

alastairq

I'm surprised by all the anger and debate on here

hey, what do you expect?

it's a 'driver's' forum for the most part....

telling someone they're driving is bad is just like telling them they're rubbish in bed.

gets the same response.

so emotive, it's unbelievable....[almost as bad a Weightwatchers versus Slimming World?}

Markyt

Flyboy152 wrote: »

How very upstanding and responsible of you.

And the driver who first of all blasted his horn, while inches from the rear of a horse on a single track road, was driving responsibly? He was upstanding and responsible when he threatened to batter a 14 year old boy, and have his horse put down? These days, I'd do much more than just ride off into the sunset if he did that.

Respect begets respect. I'll do my damndest to let people by, but I expect courtesy in return.

Lum

Careful_with_that_Axe wrote: »

Some drivers have no common sense when driving around horses. Back when I used to ride, I had a car pass me leaving a large gap and slowly; that was great, but his radio was on at huge volume and my horse bolted.

Whatever you are passing on the road, you should use care and consideration.

Ok the radio was avoidable, but what about cars that are naturally loud such as certain Subarus which have a very deep rumble at idle, which is the speed you should really use to overtake a horse.

I have the same problem with mine, it doesn't have a catalytic converter to muffle the noise and the silencers aren't exactly great at silencing either. Once you get above 2000 RPM it's a lot quieter but then I'm probably going too fast to be around a horse.