A safety campaign has been launched to urge drivers to slow down around horses on the road.

West Yorkshire Vision Zero, the region’s road safety partnership, has joined with the British Horse Society to encourage all drivers to pass horses safely.

The campaign follows the tragic death of a horse struck by a car in Kirkheaton last month.

Police were called to Town Road at 5.30am on July 8. The horse suffered serious injuries and was put to sleep.

Kirklees Police said: “A crime has been recorded regarding the incident and enquiries remain ongoing.”

The campaign says 2,800 horse-related incidents were reported on the roads last year. In 2025, 59 horses were killed, 82 horses were injured and 86 riders were hurt.

Drivers are being told to go ‘wide and slow’ when they pass horses. They should leave at least two metres or 6.5ft and keep speed at 10mph or below.

Horses have a much wider field of view than humans as well as better hearing and, as a prey animal, perceive danger differently.

They can be easily spooked, so reducing noise and speed is vital.

PC Charlotte Rafton, of the West Yorkshire Police Mounted Section, said: “As well-trained as a horse can be, they are still live animals with their own minds and can be unpredictable.

“This is why the minimum distance and speed is important to keep the horse and its rider safe.

“I have personally had a vehicle drive into my horse, significantly damaging the vehicle due to the speed and lack of distance given when the driver was rushing and incorrectly overtaking.

“By some miracle, the vehicle did not break my horse’s legs, which was a real fear upon impact. This would have led to my horse having to be put to sleep at the roadside.

“The trauma that both myself and my horse suffered due to the negligence of that driver cannot be measured.

“That’s not to mention the severity and fear of what could have been, just because a driver was too impatient to wait.”

Riders are also being encouraged to capture instances of unsafe driver behaviour and submit them to Op Snap, West Yorkshire Police’s dashcam portal. The police review submitted footage and take action where possible.

Alan Hiscox, director of safety at the British Horse Society, said: “Every horse rider and carriage driver deserves to feel safe, acknowledged and respected on Britain’s roads.

“We are passionate about keeping horses safe, and we greatly value the commitment West Yorkshire Vision Zero continues to show in working with partners to make our roads safer for horses, riders and all road users.”

Find out more about safe passing at https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/resources/west-yorkshire-vision-zero-safe-passing.