Grimsby horse riders raising awareness as drivers 'speed and shout obscenities'

Horse riders travelling down a road in Waltham
-Credit: (Image: Rachael Williamson)


A Grimsby horserider hopes to educate drivers on how to pass safely after experiencing countless frightening incidents on the road.

Rachael Williamson, 48, was part of a Grimsby-based group of about a dozen riders and supporters that took part in an annual Pass Wide and Slow Awareness Ride on Saturday, September 14. She said: "I ride on the road every week because my nearest only bridleway is a 40-minute walk away but most drivers pass me far too fast.

"Once I was coming out of a 30 mph zone and a lady was speeding towards me going faster than the 40mph road she was on. I signalled for her to slow down, she waved at me and carried on speeding.

READ MORE:

"And it happens pretty much every time I go out. A relaxing walk can become quite stressful. You literally take your life in your hands and your horse's which trusts you implicitly to keep it safe."

Rachael said people seem unaware that horses are legally entitled to be on the roads. In 2022, the Highway Code was updated to state that vehicles must pass horses at no faster than 10mph and give at least two meters of space.

But last year, 3,383 road accidents were reported and 66 horses and three people died, according to the British Horse Society. It claimed 85% of collisions happened because a vehicle passed too close or too quickly.

Rachael claims it's "getting worse, not better". But overall she felt the Pass Wide and Slow Awareness Ride was a success and the majority of drivers enabled them to ride safely. It started in Grove Farm in Waltham and the 3.5 mile circular route took them through Scartho and looped back.

She said: "On Saturday nearly every vehicle was surprisingly patient except for a white van near the end of the ride which overtook us and a woman who decided to shout obscenities at us.

"One good outcome is that a local driving school want to get on board next year and the people on the Scartho and Waltham Facebook page have been really supportive so I'm hoping attitudes are changing."