Horse Riders: Public Highways
11. What assessment he has made of the safety needs of
horse riders on the public highway. [909225]
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise the question of
the safety needs of horse riders. They were an important
part, alongside other vulnerable road users, of the cycling
and walking safety review. We are reviewing the highway
code, and our work on that will be done in connection with
a whole range of interested stakeholders, including the
British Horse Society.
The rise of electric vehicles is, of course,
environmentally welcome. However, their silence often
presents a huge problem for riders, horses and, indeed,
other road users as a result of the nervousness that is
often caused in horses by these silent vehicles either
going past or accelerating from a stop. Will my hon. Friend
take this issue up with the car manufacturers to see what
can be done to ensure that there is safety and
environmentalism on our rural roads?
My hon. Friend will recall that I have already discussed
the recognition of horse riders within the highway code and
the importance that we place on the avoidance of close
passing. He will also be aware that electric cars make a noise above a
certain speed because of vehicle tyre slap. At low speeds,
vehicle type approval regulations will mandate sound
generators on new electric and hybrid electric vehicles
from July this year.
