High-visibility vests to improve rider safety

News release
For immediate release
5 September 2007

High-visibility vests to improve rider safety on the road

A new campaign is being launched to encourage drivers to slow down to 20 km/h near horses on the road.

From 10 September, animal health company Merial New Zealand, makers of EQVALAN® and EQVALAN® GOLD, is supplying horse riders with high-visibility vests in support of the campaign to improve road safety for riders.

Merial's Julie Butson, a horse rider herself, says many drivers appear to be completely unaware of the road rules around driving past horses.

"We have decided to do something about the situation by giving away high-visibility vests for riders in a product promotion because we want to focus public attention on the issue," she says.

The campaign is timed for the onset of warmer weather and longer days as horse riders take to the roads.

NZ Pony Club training committee chair Kerry Currie says the high-visibility vests will go some way toward alerting drivers to be careful when passing horses.

"Driver behaviour around horses is often poor. It's often unintentional, but they pass too close and drive too fast because they don't realise how unpredictable horses are."

New Zealand has over 8500 registered horse riders, over half of whom are under 17 years of age. Many of these riders exercise their horses along public roads.

Drivers going past horses too fast or too close, noisy cars, loud music, slamming on brakes or rapid accelerating create a potentially lethal situation. A horse can easily jump onto the road, causing a collision.

Ms Butson says given that a horse can weigh more than half a tonne and that most of that weight is above the height of the bonnet, the occupants of a car can be killed in such an accident.

"For the rider, the situation is even more dangerous. Even if there's no collision, the rider may be thrown by a frightened horse."

She says drivers who aren't careful around horse traffic can be charged with careless or dangerous driving under the New Zealand Road Code.

The New Zealand Road Code devotes only a small section to driving near horses. According to the code, drivers have to slow down and pass carefully, giving the horse and rider plenty of room. They must not sound their horn, rev their engine or pass at speed. If the horse appears frightened, drivers must stop. Two vehicles should not pass near a horse.

Merial's neon green vests have wide reflective strips and, on the back, a road sign-type design that informs motorists to pass at 20km/h. They are free with multiple purchases of EQVALAN or EQVALAN GOLD.

"We know high-visibility vests have proven effective in the UK, where they have 3000 accidents involving cars and horses every year. Sadly some ninety percent of the horses die."

She says not only do the vests help motorists spot riders along the road, but a study undertaken by Cranfield University in England showed that drivers intuitively slow down more when they pass riders wearing high-visibility vests.

NZ Pony Club's Kerry Currie believes that not being seen by passing motorists is a major issue for riders and horses. "Many riders do wear bright vests, but I don't think enough do, so the support from Merial in this campaign is wonderful."

Riders are also urged to pick their route and the time of their ride carefully to minimise exposure to vehicle traffic.

Ms Currie says the club encourages riders to signal for drivers to slow down if necessary.

Merial's Julie Butson says the message to motorists is really simple.

"Slow down, pass wide, and don't accelerate too soon."

ENDS

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