Each year in Victoria there are a number of serious crashes involving horses and other vehicles. This information has been produced with the support of the Victorian Horse Council to help motorists avoid these crashes and to ensure the safety of themselves, their passengers, and horse riders.
Most crashes with horses involve:
- high speed roads - 70 km/h speed zones and above
- outer Melbourne suburbs or rural areas
- the vehicle hitting the horse from behind or side-swiping a horse as the vehicle overtakes
- the horse being spooked or bolting
- the horse straying from a paddock or enclosure.
- Watch out for horses being led or driven on the road - leave as much space as possible to allow for unexpected movements by the horse.
- Take extra care on bends, crests and on narrow roads, particularly in areas close to horse riding schools, trail ride businesses and on rural roads.
- Slow down when passing a horse so your vehicle does not startle the horse, and allow plenty of room when overtaking.
Don't use your car horn around horses - it will startle even the most placid horse.
- Allow for inexperienced horse riders - especially young children.
Under the road rules, horses are regarded, basically, as a vehicle and riders are subject to the same road rules as apply to other drivers. However, there are also some specific additional rules:
- Horse riders under the age of 18 riding on a road, footpath or any road-related area must wear a helmet. Obviously for optimum safety it is best to wear a helmet at all times.
- If you are riding two-abreast with another rider, you must not ride more than 1.5 m apart.
- Horses are allowed on footpaths and nature strips, unless specifically prohibited.
- Lights on animal drawn vehicles - when ridden at night or in conditions of reduced visibility they must display a white light on each side at the front of the vehicle, a red light on each side at the rear (visible for 200 m) and be fitted with a red reflector towards the rear of each side of the vehicle.