Passing horse riders: 10 mph, 2 metres and no horn
Two riders are walking their horses ahead of you on a 60 mph lane. Slow down, stay calm when a horse is startled and pass wide and slowly once the road is clear.
The short version
- See a horse: slow down to 10 mph or less and be ready to stop.
- Pass only when the road is clear, at least 2 metres wide and slowly.
- No horn, no revving, no hard acceleration near horses.
Step 1
Two horse riders are walking ahead on your side of the road.
What do you do?
✓ Check your mirror and slow down early and smoothly, to 10 mph or less as you get close. Horses can be frightened by fast traffic. Slowing early gives the riders time to see you and gives you time to stop.
Why not the other options
- ✗ Keep your speed and move out to pass straight away. Rushing up to horses at 40 mph can startle them, and you cannot yet see if the road ahead is clear.
- ✗ Give a short beep so the riders know you are there. The horn can make a horse bolt. The riders will hear your engine. Just slow down.
- ✗ Flash your headlights to warn them. Flashing tells others nothing useful and can startle a horse. Slow down instead.
Step 2
The front horse is startled and jumps sideways towards the middle of the road.
What now?
✓ Stop or hang well back, keep the engine quiet and give the rider time to settle it. A frightened horse can move in any direction. Treat it as a hazard, stay still and quiet until it is calm.
Why not the other options
- ✗ Drive past quickly before it gets worse. A car rushing past is exactly what can make a nervous horse kick out or bolt into your path.
- ✗ Rev the engine so the horse knows where you are. Revving is one of the things most likely to frighten a horse. Keep the engine as quiet as you can.
- ✗ Sound your horn to warn the rider. The rider already knows. A horn can turn a startled horse into a bolting one.
Step 3
The horse has settled. A car is coming the other way.
Can you pass the riders now?
✓ No. Wait well back until the road ahead is clear and you can leave at least 2 metres. With an oncoming car there is no room to pass wide. Waiting a few seconds behind horses costs you very little.
Why not the other options
- ✗ Yes, if you squeeze between the horses and the car. Passing close at speed is how most crashes with horses happen. You need at least 2 metres.
- ✗ Yes, if you go quickly. Speed makes a close pass more frightening for the horse and more dangerous for everyone.
- ✗ Yes, if the riders wave you on. A rider may ask you to slow down or stop, but you still have to judge yourself whether the road is clear.
Step 4
The oncoming car has gone and you can see the road ahead is clear.
How do you pass the horses?
✓ Wide and slow: at least 2 metres away and no faster than 10 mph. The Highway Code asks for at least 2 metres and 10 mph or less. Watch the riders for any signal to slow down or stop.
Why not the other options
- ✗ At normal speed, as long as you pass wide. Room is not enough on its own. A car going fast still frightens a horse, so keep to 10 mph or less.
- ✗ Toot the horn first so they move over. Never use the horn to hurry anyone, and never near horses.
- ✗ Close and quick, so you are past them sooner. A close, fast pass is the most dangerous thing you can do near a horse.
Step 5
You are past both horses.
How do you drive away?
✓ Move back in gently once you are well clear, then pick up speed smoothly. Cutting in or accelerating hard right in front of a horse can still frighten it. Leave room and drive away calmly.
Why not the other options
- ✗ Accelerate hard so you are out of their way. Hard acceleration is noisy and sudden. The Highway Code says not to do it once you have passed animals.
- ✗ Sound the horn to say thank you. A thank-you beep can still scare a horse. A wave out of the window is not needed either, just drive on calmly.
- ✗ Cut straight back in front of them. Pulling in too soon puts your car right by the front horse. Wait until you can see both riders in your mirror.
The rules behind it
- Rule 215 When you see a horse on the road, slow down to 10 mph or less. Be patient, do not sound your horn or rev your engine, and pass wide and slowly, leaving at least 2 metres when it is safe.
- Rule 214 Near animals, go slowly, give them plenty of room and be ready to stop. Do not scare them with your horn, by revving your engine or by accelerating hard once you have passed.
- Rule 163 Give cyclists at least 1.5 metres when overtaking at up to 30 mph, and more at higher speeds. Wait behind if there is not room.
More situations
Based on the Highway Code and the Road Traffic Act 1988 as published on GOV.UK in October 2026, in our own words; follow the links for the full text. Insurance points are common UK insurer policy terms, so check your own policy. This is not legal advice. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.