Horse riders call for road safety improvements in Sevenoaks
Community calls for reduced speed limits and awareness campaigns in Stanstead
Ashley Cozens, a local horse rider in the Mepham and Stansted area, is advocating for road safety improvements following an incident that left a horse injured.
Due to limited access to bridleways, riders must use roads for hacks, highlighting the need for road safety measures.
The main concern stems from roads set at the national speed limit, which transition into narrow lanes and bends with increased traffic, especially during peak times.
Discussing her own experience with us, Cozens said:
"I've had vehicles come towards me and they've suddenly slammed their brakes on because they haven't expected to see a horse and rider.
"And I think it really rings home that actually a serious accident that could be happening to any of us.
"That's why it springboarded all of the community, the equestrian community to come together and go, 'look, you know, we really need to do something about this,' which is why We set up a talk with the British Horse Society."
The event gathered horse riders, drivers, local councillors, parish council members, and police to discuss solutions for safer road conditions.
The community aims to raise awareness and work towards reducing speed limits to enhance safety for all road users, including drivers.
Cozens emphasised the importance of educating drivers on new Highway Code regulations, which require passing horses at 10 mph and maintaining a two-meter distance:
"Many drivers are unaware of these changes, and horses, whether police-trained or not, can be reactive," Cozens noted.