Equine road user safety: public attitudes, understandings and beliefs from a qualitative study in the United Kingdom.

This research study examines the attitudes, understandings, and beliefs about road safety amongst horse riders and drivers in the United Kingdom. It is based on focus group discussions involving 46 participants, including frequently horse riders and drivers with little or no horse driving experience.

Methodology

• The researchers employed a qualitative research approach, organising six focus groups with a total of 46 participants.
• The participants were divided into four groups of drivers with little to no horse riding experience, and two groups of frequent horse riders.
• The methodology included an exploration of five key topic areas associated with vulnerable road user safety. These areas were hazard perception, risk perception, emotion, attitudes to sharing the road, and empathy.

Findings

• The study discovered that drivers and horse riders may perceive hazards on the road differently, leading drivers to underestimate potential risks when encountering horses on the road.
• Even when drivers intend to overtake horses safely, they may be unaware of how this action could make horse riders feel vulnerable until they’ve initiated the manoeuvre. Consequently, drivers may react by speeding up or cutting in too soon.
• Other than this, the research found that drivers generally exhibited good skills when encountering horses. However, these skills could be impacted negatively by feelings of frustration when encountering a slow-moving horse.
• The study also revealed that younger drivers, in particular, feel that horse riding, as a leisure activity, should not hinder necessary work-related journeys.

Implications

• The research suggests that there’s a need for drivers to develop a better understanding of the potential hazards faced by horse riders on the road.
• The authors suggest that this could be achieved by promoting empathy amongst drivers for horse riders, creating environmental cues or ‘nudges’ for drivers, and providing better education for drivers.