Undercover cops bid to boost horse safety

UNDERCOVER police horses and officers are patrolling Scottish roads to find motorists who drive inconsiderately around civilian horses and riders.

Figures from the British Horse Society show 50 riders have been injured and two killed in Scotland since 2010, while 43 horses have been injured and 10 have died. These incidents typically occur when drivers collide with a horse or don’t leave enough room when overtaking, scaring the animal and causing it to bolt.

To combat this, Police Scotland’s ‘Lose the Blinkers’ campaign sees unmarked horses and constables from the force’s Mounted Branch patrolling known “areas of concern”. These are predominantly located on the fringes of large Scottish towns, where riders commonly stable and ride their horses.

Drivers caught being inconsiderate around horses face careless driving charges, which typically carry a fixed penalty of three points and a £100 fine, while more serious transgressions could lead to stiffer penalties.

Inspector Janet Dickie, from Police Scotland, said: “I am urging all drivers to give horses as much room as possible when you pass.” She also said riders should wear high-vis clothing, and use lights during darker hours.

“Those caught being inconsiderate around horses face charges of careless driving”