An equine fatality in South Tyneside has led to further calls for improved road safety
Horse riders have called for new safety measures on a busy road in South Tyneside after a horse and rider were involved in a collision with a van.
The accident took place on Lizard Lane, South Shields, which has a 40mph speed limit, except for a small section near the local riding school, where measures have been implemented to reduce the speed and flow of traffic.
The impact of the collision killed the animal and caused its 41-year-old rider a leg injury, which resulted in hospital treatment, the Shields Gazette reported.
As a result of the incident, riders have called for an improvement in driver awareness, as they claim a lot of motorists do not know what to do when a horse and rider is in front of them on the road.
Local riders have encouraged motorists to slow down when approaching and pass horses as wide as possible.
The government recently conducted a campaign, alongside road safety charity Think!, to encourage drivers and horse riders to respect each other’s right to use the roads.