The British Horse Society (BHS) has released its ten-year Dead Slow road safety statistics, showing a welcome reduction in reported road incidents involving horses in 2025, but warning that fatality figures remain concerning.
Since the launch of the Dead Slow campaign in 2016, 19,528 road incidents involving horses have been reported through the BHS Horse i app. During this period, 559 horses have died and 964 have been injured, while eight people have been killed and 999 injured, averaging nearly 100 human injuries per year.
In 2025, 2,810 incidents were reported—a 10% decrease compared with 2024. Despite this drop, 59 horses were killed, one more than in 2024, and 86 people were injured, an 8% increase on the previous year.
Over the last decade, incident numbers have fluctuated, peaking at 3,552 in 2022, while horse fatalities have increased significantly—from 21 in 2016 to 59 in 2025, a rise of 180%.
A major milestone for the campaign came with the 2022 Highway Code changes, following extensive BHS involvement in the stakeholder group for vulnerable road users. The updated guidance introduced key Dead Slow messages for passing horses safely, including leaving at least two metres of space and passing at no more than 10mph.
While awareness of equestrian road safety has improved, the data indicates more work is needed:
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78% of incidents in 2025 involved drivers passing too closely
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83% of incidents involved drivers passing too quickly—the highest since 2017
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22% of riders experienced road rage or abuse (down from 40% in 2016)
Over the last ten years, an average of 80.6% of incidents involved drivers passing too closely, with speeding incidents rising steadily since 2018.
BHS has praised the outstanding support of riders, carriage drivers, volunteers, equestrian organisations, the police, and road safety stakeholders over the past decade. Their reporting and campaigning have made Dead Slow one of the most recognised equestrian safety initiatives in the UK. The charity continues to call on the government to improve awareness of the Highway Code changes.
Alan Hiscox, Director of Safety at BHS, said:
*”Over the last ten years, the equestrian community has come together in an extraordinary way. Riders have reported incidents, our volunteers have campaigned tirelessly, and we’ve worked with stakeholders across the industry and the road safety world. That collective effort has raised awareness and helped reduce incidents.
But 59 horses lost in one year is 59 too many. Behind every statistic is a devastated owner, a traumatised rider, and a community that feels that loss deeply. While the Highway Code changes were a landmark moment, dangerous passing—too close and too fast—remains all too common.
We must continue to combine education, prevention, and enforcement. We owe it to every horse and rider to make our roads safer.”*
The reduction in 2025 shows progress is possible, but until horse and rider fatalities reach zero, the campaign’s work is far from over.
As Dead Slow enters its second decade, BHS remains committed to working with the government, road user groups, police forces, and the equestrian industry to reduce incidents and fatalities. The charity urges equestrians to report incidents via the Horse i app, helping to strengthen BHS’s advocacy for safer roads.
For more information on the Dead Slow campaign and its achievements over the last ten years, visit the BHS website.