To highlight safety of ponies - warning photos are dead ponies

[Handlecarefully]

BBC link https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-66727911
This is not only a post to remind people to go slower, to at least respect the speed limits but also to not regard them as an entitlement. To slow down even more when passing animals because they can be unpredictable... It's also to highlight the fact that the ponies and donkeys congregate near roads, picnic grounds and pubs etc because many of the public ignore all of the signs asking them not to feed the animals. When they are asked to stop the often get abusive.
A poor little mare stood over her dead foal in one photo. About 48 hours she too was killed by a car. The photos are upsetting, but anyone going to the New Forest needs to understand this issue.

God, how appallingly sad. I’m not sure why the answer would be average speed cameras though, if these drivers aren’t bothered about hitting a huge animal at speed - which could potentially cause their own demise - why would they care about a speed camera? They need better enforcement in general, patrols or traffic calming.

But then this:
In July, Hampshire County Council said another New Forest road, Roger Penny Way, did not meet government criteria for speed cameras, which it said "emphasise... human injury"
Surely, as I said, hitting a huge animal at speed is an immense danger to human life too - but presumably this means nothing will be done unless a human is seriously injured/killed? Great to know what the bar is 🙄.

And this is gobsmacking, how many are usually killed?
New Forest Verderers, an organisation which records animals deaths, said the number so far this year was relatively low

Yes, when the general public realise this a lot react as you do. Sadly a lot don't, and think it's unreasonable to introduce more safety measures and clamp down more on feeding.
The thing is, one day someone will die in a collision with a pony. It's only a matter of time, so this isn't just about animals.

Anyone love holidays in the NF? Need to read this.

I'm at a loss to comprehend the mentality of some drivers.

I've spent a lot of time in the New Forest over the years, and have seen absurd behaviour by some drivers. They'll sit and sound their horns when there are ponies and donkeys in the road, as though the animals are going to take any notice of that.

I also regularly see drivers passing riders and horses too close and too fast on the roads in my area. I'm amazed there aren't more accidents, tbh.

Of course they should install average speed cameras.

Fines and points on a licence does deter people, especially as repeated points will add up to a ban.

You can see the impact of average speed cameras on motorways.

Single cameras and ‘traffic calming’ won’t work, they will speed in between.