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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2020; 10(12); 2403; doi: 10.3390/ani10122403

Equestrian Road Safety in the United Kingdom: Factors Associated with Collisions and Horse Fatalities.

Abstract: Over 60% of UK horse riders report having experienced a road-related near-miss or accident. The aim of this study was to describe horse-related road incidents ( = 4107) reported to the British Horse Society (2010-2020) and to identify factors associated with higher odds of collisions with another vehicle and horse fatalities using multivariable logistic regression modelling. Drivers passed the horse too closely in 84.2% of incidents while road rage and speeding were reported in 40.3% and 40.1% of incidents, respectively. Close passing distance alone (odds ratio [OR] 18.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.5, 51.6) or in combination with speeding (OR 4.4, CI 1.7, 11.7) was associated with higher collision odds compared to speeding alone. Speeding was, however, associated with higher horse fatality odds (OR 2.3, CI 1.2, 4.6). Wearing high visibility clothing reduced odds of collision (OR 0.2, CI 0.1, 0.4). A fatal injury to a horse was almost 12 times as likely to result in severe to fatal rider/handler injury. Loose horses contribute significantly to road-related horse fatalities. Driver behaviour of how to pass horses safely on UK roads needs further improvement and will help reduce the risk of collisions and horse and human fatalities.
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Publication Date: 2020-12-15 PubMed ID: 33334012PubMed Central: PMC7765430DOI: 10.3390/ani10122403Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study discusses equestrian road safety in the United Kingdom, analysing incidents reported over a decade to the British Horse Society. It explores multiple factors that contribute to road collisions and horse fatalities, such as the behaviour of drivers, speeding, wearing high-visibility clothing, and loose horses.

Study Overview

  • The research’s purpose was to examine horse-related road incidents, with a focus on those that escalated into collisions with other vehicles and resulted in horse fatalities. It utilised multivariable logistic regression modelling to identify these correlations.
  • The data set comprised over 4100 horse-related incidents reported to the British Horse Society between 2010 and 2020.

Significant Findings

  • The study found that 84.2% of incidents involved drivers passing horses too closely. Driver behaviour, including road rage and speeding, contributed significantly to these accidents, reported in 40.3% and 40.1% of incidents, respectively.
  • Close passing distance increased the odds of a collision dramatically (18 times more likely). This risk further escalated when speeding was added to the equation (4 times higher risk).
  • Despite the increased odds of a collision with close passing, speeding was found to be the primary factor associated with higher horse fatality odds (over twice as likely).

Role of Safety Measures

  • The study noted a significant protective effect of wearing high-visibility clothing for riders, which reduced the odds of a collision.
  • Fatal horse injuries led to a nearly 12-fold increase in the likelihood of severe to fatal rider/handler injury, highlighting the severity of incidents when a horse fatalities occur.

Contribution of Loose Horses

  • Loose horses on the road were identified as another key contributor to horse-related road fatalities, although the specific statistics were not mentioned.

Recommendations and Conclusion

  • From the findings, the research calls for improvements in driver behaviour, particularly regarding how they pass horses on UK roads. This change can help reduce collisions and fatalities involving both horses and humans.

Cite This Article

APA
Pollard D, Grewar JD. (2020). Equestrian Road Safety in the United Kingdom: Factors Associated with Collisions and Horse Fatalities. Animals (Basel), 10(12), 2403. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10122403

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 12
PII: 2403

Researcher Affiliations

Pollard, Danica
  • The British Horse Society, Abbey Park, Stareton, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2XZ, UK.
Grewar, John Duncan
  • jDATA Pty (Ltd.), Tambali Village, Sandbaai 7200, South Africa.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
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  3. Pollard D, Furtado T. Public Roads as Places of Interspecies Conflict: A Study of Horse-Human Interactions on UK Roads and Impacts on Equine Exercise. Animals (Basel) 2021 Apr 9;11(4).
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