Across the winding backroads of Scotland, from the Borders to the Highlands, horses are more than just a countryside sight — they’re part of our culture, our community, and our way of life.
Next week, a team of riders will set off on a powerful five-day, fifty-mile journey through the English countryside, but the message they carry resonates far beyond Lambourn and Windsor.
It speaks just as clearly to drivers on the country lanes of Moray, the farm tracks of Perthshire, and the open roads of the Western Isles.
The campaign is led by James Luckhurst, head of road safety at GEM Motoring Assist and the founder of Project EDWARD — Every Day Without A Road Death.
He’ll be joining the ride to raise awareness of how devastating collisions between vehicles and horses can be, and what all of us behind the wheel can do to prevent them.
The ride is supported by the British Horse Society’s ‘Dead Slow’ campaign and draws attention to a crucial Highway Code rule introduced in 2022.
Rule 215 asks drivers to slow down to 10mph and leave at least two metres of space when passing a horse.
This is not just courtesy, it’s life-saving common sense.
In 2024 alone, 58 horses were killed on the roads, with another 97 injured — and 80 people hurt too.
Most of these incidents were caused by vehicles passing too quickly or too close.
You don’t have to be in Berkshire or Buckinghamshire to see how that might happen.
Rural Scotland is full of narrow roads with limited visibility, where farm vehicles, cyclists, walkers and horse riders all share the same space.
Too often, impatience behind the wheel can turn a peaceful ride into a tragedy.
The ride next week is a tribute to Knockalla, a young racehorse killed on the road near Lambourn last year.
But it also speaks to every rider in Dumfries, Aberdeenshire, and the Highlands who has flinched as a car sped by too fast.
“A horse is not like any other road user,” says James.
“It’s a living being with instincts and fears, and if startled, it can react in ways the rider simply can’t control.”
Sudden revving, beeping, or even just getting too close can be enough to send a horse bolting into traffic.
That’s why patience, space and a slower speed are more than good manners — they’re essential.
As the riders travel towards the Royal Windsor Horse Show, they’ll be sharing this message with MPs, police leaders, and the public.
But its impact depends on all of us, wherever we live.
Scotland has some of the most scenic roads in the UK — let’s make sure they’re among the safest too.
Give horses space.
Slow down.
Make the road a kinder place for everyone.
You can follow the journey throughout the week and lend your voice to the campaign by visiting projectedward.org
