Motorists will be advised to avoid driving too close to the animals, which roam freely throughout New Forest in Hampshire, as well as Exmoor and Dartmoor in Devon.

The change was requested by The British Horse Society and is welcomed by campaigners in the New Forest who have long called for measures to help reduce animal road deaths. The council has also backed petitions for speed cameras to be installed to combat this issue in the national park.

The current advice in the Highway Code states that road users should slow down to 10mph while passing a horse on the road and leave at least a two-metre gap.

The latest regulation will be included following an 18-month review of the code, with the final version due to be finalised on the 29th of January 2022. The Department for Transport said: “We agreed such wild animals are more prevalent in those areas which warranted a specific mention”.

The new advice states “Feral or semi-feral ponies which are found in areas such as the New Forest, Exmoor or Dartmoor require the same consideration as ridden horses when approaching or passing”. 

Gilly Jones, of the New Forest Roads Awareness group, said she was “extremely pleased” at the addition to the Highway Code. “It’s certainly a first – it’s still about raising the awareness of feral and semi-feral ponies and it’s very positive what we can achieve with agencies working together.

“We’re still getting a horrific number of speeding drivers who lack a basic knowledge about driving in the forest”, she continued.

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Analysis by the British motoring association showed that rural areas were “much more dangerous” than motorways or dual carriages. Rural routes and country lanes were the locations of 71% of fatal accidents for drivers aged between 17 and 24.

The risk of serious injury was also found to be higher for younger motorists on rural roads. The data states that the likelihood of being involved in a car crash rose to 15.2% on a country lane, from just 11.3% in a city or town.

Hotspots for such accidents were named as the A2 in Kent and the A3 in Surrey, with Kent’s A229 having the highest collision density. All road users, but particularly younger drivers, are being encouraged to practice extra caution in these areas.

Edmund King, AA President, said: “Many young drivers, and indeed parents, are unaware that rural roads pose a specific and significant risk to young drivers, and potentially are much more dangerous than motorways or urban roads.

“The research should help target driver education at the times and places young drivers are most at risk. This is a clear sign that greater education and exposure to rural roads helps alleviate the risks they pose.”

The analysis also highlighted the fact that young motorists are at an increased risk of single-vehicle collisions on rural roads than any other age range.

Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary, added: “Rural roads are often narrow with blind bends, which is why it’s essential we raise awareness among young people on how to drive safely on them. I strongly support the AA in their work to improve the education of drivers.”

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