Why are some drivers such utter tools around horses on the road?

[Springersrock]

This baffles me

Our yard is on a tiny little country lane. It’s a dead end with a farm at the end, a few houses and several other small yards along it. Lots of access to bridle ways off the lane so hardly any roadwork.

Yesterday afternoon DD had a lesson so was hacking to another yard along the lane - about 10 minutes hack away. I was following on my bike.

A delivery van comes flying along the lane, barely slowed down and passed so close DD could have touched it.

A couple of minutes later he came back the other way, this time he did slow down - but only so he could shout abuse at DD and I before he sped off again.

He obviously wasn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer - he was in a sign written van so I’ve phoned the delivery company and complained

This isn’t the first time she’s encountered behaviour like this and, sadly, I’m sure it won’t be the last, but why on earth do people behave like this?

I cycle a lot and while I have been subjected to some pretty stupid drivers, I’ve never encountered anywhere near the level of aggression and hatred that seems to be directed towards horse riders.

I never found that to be the case. The vast majority were always considerate and thoughtful.

The only problem I had was when people used to hang back too much and be a bit scared to just pass with a wide berth. But if somebody isn’t used to horses and they’re not quite sure how to react that’s understandable.

The amount of Horse Riders I see who don’t acknowledge or thank drivers wind me up.

Almost despise them as much as the dual carriageway cyclist!

Cyclists are entitled to be on dual carriageways...? And most aren't cycling them for funsies, they're doing so for lack of an alternative suitable (safer) route.

I wear a hat cam and a hi viz gilet that says I have a hat cam.

Works on 99 percent of people

Yes I agree some riders are their own worst enemy by not thanking people. It annoys me and I ride a lot!

@Motherofcreek is exactly the kind of entitled twat who drives around thinking they have more right to be on the blind bend than the dog walkers, cyclists and horse riders and ends up causing accidents

Charming kissmewherethesundontshine your language is lovely! Calling people you don’t know twats... but sorry not true at all. However if any of the above decided to take a risk and cross on a blind bend where the speed limit is sixty - then they are foolish and dangerous.

then they are foolish and dangerous.

Yes, they are.

Still won't make you feel less shit if you run anyone over because you couldn't stop in time, will it?

Yes they are idiots, but it's always worth slowing down round a blind bend.

“The amount of times there is a huge queue because two horse riders are just lazily plodding down the road chatting away and people don’t want to over take because there is no room“

I’ve never seen a queue due to two riders plodding down the road oblivious to cars, despite having been a rider for 42 years and a driver for 30 years. Most horse riders are accutely aware of their vulnerability on the roads and are alert to traffic around them.

Motherofcreek Aaaargh! 🙄 Blind bend BLIND BEND BLIND BEND - you don’t know what’s round it, just don’t go fast! Yes, anyone who crosses round a blind bend is an idiot, but do is anyone who drives round one hoping that there will never be an obstruction. You don’t know what is round there. If a horse is round there having a moment then yes, it is not your fault or your response for the horse but it is still your responsibility not to hit any unexpected thing round the blind bend, and the best way to deal with this is to drive round a blind bend as though there is an accident waiting to happen round it. I don’t want to meet you speeding round a blind bend in a car, let alone when I am on a horse, on foot or on a pushbike!

then they are foolish and dangerous.

Yes they are, but so is driving round a blind bend at speed.

Anything could be round that corner

I’ve never seen a queue due to two riders plodding down the road oblivious to cars

Me neither. I’ve never been in a queue due to 2 horse riders mooching along the road.

DD will always pull off the road as soon as she can and if she’s ever been out with another rider one will pull behind the other.

She’s, and every other rider I know, are very aware of their vulnerability on the road and would rather cars get past as soon as it’s safe to do so.

I’ve never seen a queue due to two riders plodding down the road oblivious to cars

Me neither and I spend a lot of time on local country roads horse riders love and stables are on. Funny that.

another one who has never seen a queue of traffic behind two abreast horses..... Most will move into single file. It is actully not a nice feeling knowing there are cars desperate to get past you. i'd rather make it easier for them to pass safely than have them sit behind, potentially winding up the horses more

The amount of times there is a huge queue because two horse riders are just lazily plodding down the road chatting away and people don’t want to over take because there is no room

This is very very annoying.

You pay council tax but that doesn’t mean you purchased the road network, you have to share it with others that also pay council tax, share nicely

You pay council tax but that doesn’t mean you purchased the road network, you have to share it with others that also pay council tax, share nicely

I shall drive 2 abreast with my friend in their car then & shout through the window, share & share alike.

I shall drive 2 abreast with my friend in their car then & shout through the window, share & share alike.

99% of cars have two seats in the front and therefore take up the entire width of the lane, being two abreast, your friends car isn’t unusual - shouting out the window may be classed as road rage, which is illegal though so be careful

@Motherofcreek

Because there are fuck all bridleways left.

I don’t want to meet you speeding round a blind bend in a car, let alone when I am on a horse, on foot or on a pushbike

Where have I stated I was speeding?? I’ve stated multiple times I was doing 30 - on a sixty road. I was able to slow down quick enough with out any one coming to harm. Thankfully.

But I’m glad you agree crossing at that point is idiotic.

No, not thankfully, motherofcreek - nobody is here to thank you for not driving dangerously If you drove round a blind bend at a speed from which you could not safely stop, you would be "speeding", or driving with excessive speed for the conditions - even if you were doing 30 in a 60.

So your whole point was to get people to agree that crossing on a blind bend was stupid?

If so...well done?

In other news, MN demands people confirm that they agree the Pope follows one particular religion.

If you drove round a blind bend at a speed from which you could not safely stop, you would be "speeding", or driving with excessive speed for the conditions - even if you were doing 30 in a 60*

But I was able to safely stop so none of that applies to me....

It applies to you, Motherofcreek, because you seem to think you're doing the world a favour by not driving recklessly - which is no more true than me saying I'm doing the world a favour by not going on a killing spree... Your original post on the matter said:

I nearly smashed in to huge horse with my kids in the car when the rider thought it was a great idea to walk her house across the road immediately behind a fast bend.

Which is very different - nearly smashing into someone is highly dangerous.

So you're either lying now by saying that you were able to stop safely and easily, or you were lying then when you said you nearly smashed into someone on a "fast" bend (No Such Thing). Which is it?

But I was able to safely stop so none of that applies to me....

But you originally said you ‘nearly smashed into a huge horse’.

30 round a blind bend is too fast if you nearly smash into something.

There could have been anything around that corner.

Yes I would have smashed in to them if I was going any faster. Cars regularly drive fast on that route.

However I didn’t. And I’ve done that bend multiple times since and thirty is not to fast - although a Range Rover this morning was hammering it around it this morning towards me, over compensating the bend by being on my part on the road.

It’s a fast road as there is long drag up to it and many drivers don’t slow down enough. That’s the whole point of my posts.

Walking across the road at that point was idiotic and dangerous. You can pull my post to pieces and accuse me of lying - I don’t care. People that ride horses dont own the road either.

Maybe they should introduce a road competency test and licence for them....

I passed my BHS road safety test, still didn't stop the idiotic driver who served round my DH who was in front of me trying to slow down the on coming traffic.

My daughter did a road safety course with The Pony Club.

It teaches her how to behave in traffic, unfortunately it doesn’t stop drivers like the one mentioned in my OP - or in any of the other incidents

The presence of the RR on your side of the road is further evidence as to why you should be driving slower - if you nearly smashed into the horse, you would, equally, nearly smash into the RR - and more likely so since the RR is moving towards you at speed.

Many horse riders do take the BHS (or PC) Ride Safe courses. Unfortunately, even though car drivers also have to pass a test, it doesn't stop idiots being on the road...