200 drivers reined in to protect horse riders
An award-winning undercover mounted police operation to make roads safer for horse riders has targeted more than 200 drivers in its first year.
Plainclothes officers went on 21 horseback patrols across Scotland as part of the Lose the Blinkers campaign.
Motorists who failed to show care when passing the horses were then pulled over by unmarked police cars alerted via the riders’ radios.
Officers in uniform then gave advice about following the Highway Code’s rule on passing “wide and slow”.
A total of 247 drivers were stopped in the 12 months since the launch of the Police Scotland and British Horse Society Scotland campaign. Some were also caught committing other traffic offences, including seven for careless driving.
There were two arrests for warrants and two people were found to be in possession of drugs.
But 10 drivers were stopped to be commended for their patience while navigating the horses.
Sergeant Alan Gilbert from Police Scotland’s mounted unit led the operation.
He said: “It’s been getting a lot of positive feedback.”
The campaign was awarded the BHS Scotland Tarragon Trophy.
Two riders and 10 horses have died on Scotland’s roads since 2010.