West Yorkshire Vision Zero, the region’s road safety partnership, has joined with the British Horse Society to encourage drivers to pass horses safely.
The campaign follows 2,800 horse-related road incidents reported nationally in 2025, with a new video highlighting the steps drivers should take to protect riders, horses and other road users. In 2025, 59 horses were killed, 82 horses were injured and 86 riders were injured.
Going wide and slow are key to a safe pass. Drivers should leave at least two metres (6.5 feet) and keep their speed at 10mph or below. Horses have a much wider field of view than humans as well as better hearing, and as a prey animal they perceive danger differently — meaning they can be easily spooked, so reducing noise and speed is key to keeping everyone safe. Drivers should also watch for hand signals from the rider and be prepared to stop if requested, since riders may have seen an upcoming hazard.
PC Charlotte Rafton, of the West Yorkshire Police Mounted Section, said: “As well-trained as a horse can be, they are still live animals with their own minds and can be unpredictable.”
She added: “This is why the minimum distance and speed is important to keep the horse and its rider safe.”
She continued: “I have personally had a vehicle drive into my horse, significantly damaging the vehicle due to the speed and lack of distance given when the driver was rushing and incorrectly overtaking. By some miracle, the vehicle did not break my horse’s legs, which was a real fear upon impact. This would have led to the horse having to be put to sleep at the roadside.”
She added: “The trauma that both myself and my horse suffered due to the negligence of that driver cannot be measured. That’s not to mention the severity and fear of what could have been, just because a driver was too impatient to wait.”
Riders are also being encouraged to capture instances of unsafe driver behaviour and submit them to Op Snap, West Yorkshire Police’s dashcam portal. The police review submitted footage and take action where possible.
Three instances of unsafe overtaking that were sent in to Op Snap can be seen in this new video. Action was taken against all of the drivers.
Alison Lowe OBE, chair of the West Yorkshire Vision Zero Board and deputy mayor for policing and crime, said: “We’re asking all motorists to be aware of how to safely drive near horses.”
She added: “As part of our Vision Zero work, to reduce all road deaths and serious injuries to zero by 2040, it’s crucial that everyone does their bit.”
She continued: “Horse riders have the same right as anyone to be on our roads and it just boils down to common courtesy.”
Alan Hiscox, director of safety at the British Horse Society, said: “Every horse rider and carriage driver deserves to feel safe, acknowledged and respected on Britain’s roads.”
He added: “These new videos are an important way of building understanding between road users, while also encouraging riders to report incidents so that education and enforcement can be targeted where they are needed most.”
He continued: “We are passionate about keeping horses safe, and we greatly value the commitment West Yorkshire Vision Zero continues to show in working with partners to make our roads safer for horses, riders and all road users.”
Paul Jeffrey, West Yorkshire Police lead for the West Yorkshire Safety Camera Partnership, said: “Careless and inconsiderate driving is a recognised feature in many collisions.”
He added: “Journey-cam use is now widespread and the submission of footage to Operation SNAP continues to grow. You can help keep the roads safe by passing horses wide and slow and avoid the risk of a crash, or court appearance.”
More information about safe passing is available online.
