BHS campaign aims to prevent horse riders from suffering traffic accidents

Although according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) many horse riders do not particularly enjoy taking their animals on the roads, sometimes they have no choice. Coming into contact with vehicles can be dangerous, especially because loud noises or fast moving objects can panic steeds – potentially resulting in a traffic accident.
According to the British Horse Society (BHS), approximately 3,000 collisions involving horses and other road users occur annually. While individuals can take various precautions to prevent themselves from suffering injury during an accident – such as purchasing a suitable riding hat – the BHS has conducted an advertising campaign which might help keep people safe on the roads.
The scheme, which took place within Lanarkshire in Scotland, involved attaching posters to the backs of ten buses. Running over a four week period, the "Hit the brakes, not my horse" campaign hopefully affected motorists – persuading them to slow down and give riders plenty of space.
It has been reported that the scheme was well-received by the majority of equestrianism participants. Furthermore, if the number of traffic accidents involving horses decline in the area, other locations could adopt similar campaigns – hopefully keeping individuals safe on the roads.
Photo © Bill Ward's Brickpile via Flickr under Creative Commons Licence