Safety signs encouraging drivers to pass horses with plenty of distance and no faster than 10mph have been welcomed in Witchford and Little Thetford in Cambridgeshire. The signs were put up following a campaign by riders to improve road safety for horses, pedestrians, and cyclists. The British Horse Society reported a 116% increase in incidents in Cambridgeshire, with 93 incidents recorded last year, including one horse fatality.

The British Horse Society recorded 3,118 road incidents involving horses nationally last year, prompting the creation of an app called Horse i that allows riders to report incidents directly. The charity hopes that by collecting data on incidents, they can identify hotspots and improve rider safety. Charlotte Mitchell, a rider and chair of Little Thetford Parish Council, played a role in gathering evidence locally to support the need for safety signs.

Mitchell expressed frustration with motorists who do not pass horses slow and wide, stating that they ruin the experience for riders wanting to enjoy the countryside. She described negative experiences such as verbal abuse, cars revving engines, shouting, and honking horns while passing riders. The hope is that the new safety signs will encourage motorists to slow down and give horses the space they need on the road.