§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many horse-related accidents there have been and how many related fatalities on public roads, in each of the last five years; and what measures he plans to take to improve safety in this area. [25325]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe statistics requested are not available because they are not specifically identifiable in the national road accidents database. However, a current review of the collection system is considering a proposal to include ridden-horses as a separately identifiable category in the national database, and a decision will be announced by the end of March 1998.
We will continue to provide advice for drivers and horse riders in the Highway Code and the Highway Code for Young Road Users. The theory test for drivers includes questions about horses and the leaflet "Horse Sense for Motorists" is widely available.