High-vis riders seek polite way to slow motorists

A GROUP of horse riders are wearing highvis outfits and body cameras similar to police uniforms – in a bid to make drivers slow down.

Jocelle Lovelle, 45, took to the idea after her teenage daughter Seren was knocked from her horse.

Now her and fellow horse riders are wearing the high-vis outfits which have the word “polite” written on them instead of “police”.

Jocelle said they make the group feel safer when riding because driver slow down as they pass – and they have the cameras in case anything happens.

But she said some motorists are enraged by the outfits – and abuse the group as they drive by.

She said: “They look a bit like police checks, and are quite good because it slows the traffic down and it also help people see us. Drivers genuinely don’t know what to do. Some swear, beep horns and are abusive.”

The mum from Penarth said the measures are there to make the riders safer.

“If something happens we can give it to the police as video evidence,” she said. “It’s a shame because it takes a bit of the fun out of riding.”

Police have encouraged horse riders to wear high-vis clothing but not to deliberately mislead motorists.

Inspector Lisa Gore of South Wales Police, said: “Some riders have reported drivers sounding their horns and revving their engines to frighten horses because they feel misled. We want to ensure the public make an informed decision about wearing such clothing.”