Government Response

The Government responded to this petition on Friday 17th January 2014

As this e-petition has received more than 10 000 signatures, the relevant Government department have provided the following response:

We are aware of the dangers irresponsible motorists can cause if they do not drive appropriately around horses; however It is unlikely that practical driving test candidates will encounter a horse during their driving test. Obviously inner-city areas are much less likely to have significant numbers of horses on the road; even in rural areas there is no guarantee that a candidate would encounter a horse during their driving test, which is typically of 35–40 minutes long.

All practical driving test candidates must pass a theory test before being eligible to take a practical test. The theory test is divided into two sections; the first comprising multiple choice questions, the second a moving image hazard perception test. The multiple choice part of the test includes material about vulnerable road users such as children, cyclists, and horse riders. The test includes six questions on vulnerable road users, but owing to the random nature of the question bank we cannot guarantee that every candidate will be asked a question relating to horses.

The hazard perception test (HPT) is a moving image assessment that measures candidates’ awareness and response to potential hazards. The current HPT features clips, involving horses, and gauges the candidates response to them. We are also developing a new version of HPT, with more realistic graphics, that will feature horses in a wider range of scenarios than the current HPT

We also produce Standards for Safe Drivers and Riders. We recommend approved driving instructors (ADI) should use these standards as a basis from which to form their training regimes. Horses are included in the standards along with other vulnerable road users and we include a reference specifically that trainees should not to startle any nearby horse when starting the engine of their car. The Highway Code also features significant content on road safety whist riding a horse. The content related to horses in the highway code can be found here; https://www.gov.uk/rules-about-animals-47-to-58/horse-riders-49-to-55

We have found that the use of social media is an effective way to raise motorists’ awareness of the dangers both to them and to horse riders of not following the rules and official guidance when approaching, passing or overtaking a horse. We have issued updates through our Facebook, with one posting receiving over 250,000 hits. We have also set up an account on Twitter in collaboration with Horse and Hound magazine, and various horse rider groups and stables to promote the ways to follow the Highway Code.


This e-petition remains open to signatures and will be considered for debate by the Backbench Business Committee should it pass the 100 000 signature threshold.