In this episode, Kev and Tracey are joined by Alan Hiscox, the director of safety for the British Horse Society. They discuss the importance of respecting and understanding horse riders as vulnerable road users.
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So on this episode, we're delighted to welcome
2
:Alan Hiscox, who's the Director of
Safety for the British Horse Society.
3
:Welcome Alan.
4
:audioalan.hiscox11403142102:
Hello, and thanks very much for
5
:the invitation for this podcast.
6
:audioKevField21403142102:
And thank you for coming on.
7
:So Alan, my first question is,
because a lot of people will not know
8
:what the British Horse Society is.
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:What actually is it?
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:What do you do?
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:audioalan.hiscox11403142102:
Okay, that's a, that's a very
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:good question to start on.
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:We are the, um, the largest EQU
charity in the uk and, , we cover
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:four main areas, uh, the education,
which is teaching people how to ride
15
:and how to look after, , horses and,
and, um, anything to do with that.
16
:So we have some, some stages there
that people can, can take assessments.
17
:Then we have the welfare department
that really looks after, , the welfare
18
:of horses out and about in the UK.
19
:You know, especially perhaps if
people see a horse in a field
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:that's, undernourished, they
can, they can let us know.
21
:Then there's the access department
that looks after all the safe off
22
:road access for bridleways and
getting horses, actually, which
23
:is very important, off the roads.
24
:And then there's the safety,
, team, which is, uh, I head up.
25
:We're a small but perfectly formed team
of three to cover the whole of the UK.
26
:And, we are the one stop shop for
anything and everything that may
27
:cause a carriage driver or horse
rider, you know, an issue with safety.
28
:So it could be low flying aircraft,
drones, slippery road surfaces.
29
:Dogs, you know, it's that great one,
it's okay, my dog is okay with the
30
:horses, but my horse might not be
okay with dogs, so we work with, uh,
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:Dogs Trust, RSPCA and Kennel Club.
32
:Uh, fireworks, you know, far too
many injuries are caused with
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:fireworks being let off around horses.
34
:, but I would say our main thrust, and
95 percent of our work, is all about,
35
:, safety of horses and, uh, riders and
carriage drivers and horses on the roads.
36
:And that's what we're really focused
on with the, with the safety team.
37
:So, in a nutshell, that's
the British Horse Society,
38
:and that is the safety team.
39
:audioKevField21403142102: Yeah.
40
:massive, isn't it?
41
:Yeah, yeah, that's it.
42
:And it's a whole new world, I think, For
somebody who isn't a horsey person, maybe
43
:then they may never have heard of you.
44
:We see you a lot at conventions
and sort of like industry events,
45
:so driving instructors know about
you and are hopefully passing on
46
:messages to their learner drivers.
47
:But, we just felt that there that you
could bring a whole load of information
48
:to our listeners, things that they
might never have thought about.
49
:audioalan.hiscox11403142102:
Well, yeah, I hope so.
50
:And as you say, it's a bit of a, an
anomaly horses, sometimes everybody
51
:sees them in the fields, but when you
actually see a horse on a road or a
52
:carriage on the, on the road, you know,
it can sort of raise the eyebrows.
53
:And, , you know, I know there's a
lot of drivers out there that sort
54
:of go, Oh, well, What do I do now?
55
:So, yeah, it's a really important, um,
subject and, , one that the British Horse
56
:Society really wants to, you know, involve
ourselves with driving instructors, , and
57
:the police and road safety partnerships
and local authorities just to increase
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:that, , awareness of, , what to do
if you see a horse on the roads.
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:audioKevField21403142102: So one of
the questions my, my learners had
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:was, and I thought I knew the answer,
but I knew I was going to do this.
61
:Was why do horses use the road?
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:audioalan.hiscox11403142102:
Well, no, that's, that is
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:a very, very good question.
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:One that we, often have to explain,
, because, as I mentioned, the access team
65
:with the bridleways, there's just not
enough safe off road access out there.
66
:So, horses and riders and carriages will
be going from one bridleway to another
67
:bridleway, or a stable to a bridleway,
or There just might not be any off road
68
:access that they can use around the area
they live, so they have to go on the road.
69
:And believe you me, the horse
doesn't want to be there, the
70
:rider doesn't want to be there.
71
:It'd be so much better, you know, if we
were off the road on a by the way, you
72
:know, riding through a forest or a field.
73
:So yeah, when you see a horse on
the , you know, please don't think,
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:oh, it's there to slow us down.
75
:It's there because We are trying to
find safe off road access, , or because
76
:there's no off road access anywhere there.
77
:So, um, yeah, it's a, it's a, it's
a, it's an interesting question and
78
:you're right, one that people say,
well, why are you on the roads?
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:Yeah.
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:audioKevField21403142102: And
it's just their perspective
81
:was, well, there's fields.
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:Surely they can,
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:audioalan.hiscox11403142102: Yeah,
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:audioKevField21403142102: trying
to get you go into a difference
85
:that's not owned by the horse and
then maybe not allowed to go there.
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:So to get from point A to
point B, they have to use.
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:the roads as such.
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:audioalan.hiscox11403142102: And there
are many, many landowners who allow horses
89
:onto their lands, you know, in sort of
permissive by the ways, which is great.
90
:But again, there still
is not enough of that.
91
:And then we've got, the broader ways that
are defined on maps that we can use and
92
:areas that horses can get off the roads.
93
:And yeah, there's nothing better.
94
:Than being out in the open where
there are no cars and no roads, but
95
:unfortunately, an awful lot of our, our
work and exercise has to be on the roads.
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:audioKevField21403142102: I
seem to be talking a lot here.
97
:I'm looking at Tracy as I say that.
98
:Because I've got loads of questions.
99
:Obviously, I deal with, where we live,
we're fairly close to the country.
100
:And we, I won't say we see
them often, horses on the road,
101
:but we do come across them.
102
:, but if you're living in somewhere like
London, people that then move out to
103
:the country, I was shocked to see horses
on the road and they think, well, I
104
:thought that was only part of the theory
test that has a perception and they
105
:and they were going, what happens now?
106
:How do I deal with this?
107
:So the question I'm going to put it
to you is what would you like to see?
108
:Drivers do when they
meet a horse on the road.
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:audioalan.hiscox11403142102: Okay,
well, it's actually, there's four
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:simple messages that we try and,
uh, ask drivers to, to adhere to.
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:And in fact, they're in the
highway code now, which is great.
112
:You know, we were part of the highway code
review, um, over two years ago, and we
113
:asked for our message to be put in there.
114
:So.
115
:It's, it's, if I see a horse on the
road, and actually, that first sentence
116
:is quite telling, because not just a
ridden horse, it could be a carriage
117
:horse, it even could be a horse that is
in Dartmoor or the New Forest or Exmoor.
118
:So it's, it's, if I see a horse on
the roads, then I will slow down
119
:to a maximum of 10 miles an hour.
120
:I will not sound my horn or rev my engine
and when safe to do so, I'll pass the
121
:horse, wide and slow, at least two meters
distance and then drive slowly away.
122
:And each of those messages really
are, they're important on their
123
:own, but together they will
make a safe pass of the horse.
124
:So yeah, it's it is, I suppose,
quite simple messaging.
125
:And it is, in fact, a
behavioral change technique.
126
:, and the reason the way I was, I was there.
127
:I'm not an academic, by the way,
in case you haven't gathered that.
128
:I went to a road safety conference,
and a road safety professional came up
129
:and said, Do you know you've got a, um,
a behavioral change technique there?
130
:And I said, No, no, I didn't.
131
:And he said, Well, yes, you have.
132
:It's the, if I see a horse
on the road, then I will.
133
:And then the full messages.
134
:So, , as that was part of the, , what
the Department of Transport wanted
135
:to get into the Highway Code, they
wanted it to be behavioral change.
136
:Then our messaging really
sort of fitted in there.
137
:So.
138
:Um, yeah, four simple, , phrases,
, that will make up for a slow pass.
139
:That's a safe pass as well as a slow pass.
140
:Yeah,
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:audioKevField21403142102: Yeah.
142
:And I think that's so important
because you mentioned earlier about
143
:a driver having that thought of.
144
:what do I do?
145
:But as soon as somebody has
that thought, what do I do?
146
:That's likely to trigger feelings of
uncertainty and nerves and anxiety.
147
:So being able to put across a really
clear message helps fill in that gap.
148
:So if somebody thinks, what do I do?
149
:Oh, yes, I remember.
150
:If I see a horse, I will.
151
:And then those four simple messages.
152
:And that helps not only tell the
driver what they need to do to have
153
:that safe pass, but it helps them do
it in a confident way because they've
154
:got that knowledge behind them.
155
:So they're doing it
with certainty as well.
156
:Yeah.
157
:audioalan.hiscox11403142102: and then
some, you know, every time a driver
158
:or a learner sees a horse on the road,
they can use it as an opportunity to
159
:sort of learn and increase their skills.
160
:So I suppose, um, you know, rather
than, Oh, there's a horse, it's
161
:an opportunity to bring those four
messages in and completely say, and it
162
:makes, it makes the horse feel good.
163
:It makes the rider feel good.
164
:, and hopefully it makes
the driver feel good.
165
:And that's another message that we've
got into the highway code is remember
166
:there's three brains at work here.
167
:There's the rider, the driver, but
don't forget the horse's brain.
168
:And, we all want to feel good when
we're, when we're driving, and if it
169
:makes other people feel good by what
we've done, I think that's, um, that's
170
:quite, uh, uh, an important thing as well.
171
:So, yeah, , it's something that we've.
172
:Not, I wouldn't say accidentally, but,
um, we put a lot of thought into it,
173
:but to actually know that it was a
behavioral change technique as well,
174
:really sort of, , put the icing on
the cake, really, for, for us, you
175
:audioKevField21403142102: I suppose for
you it's knowing that you're doing the
176
:right things as well there, isn't it?
177
:If someone else has come up and said,
I like that, this is a behavioral
178
:change and this is what we, we want to
see, you know, because this is how we
179
:change the way people act on the road,
180
:audioalan.hiscox11403142102: I've got
to say, riders have been letting us
181
:know that since, um, certainly the
highway coaches came, , changes came
182
:in, , they have noticed, albeit small,
a difference, and, and The other thing I
183
:think is, is, is really, , important is
a lot of our, our members and our riders
184
:let, let us know that actually the new
drivers and the younger drivers tend
185
:to be the ones that are passing them.
186
:More safely, if you like, , because they
have had that instruction from, from the
187
:driving instructors and they are aware of
the safety concerns of, , the, the horses.
188
:So, yes, , it's sort of, , an encouraging,
time, I think, for, for horse riders, but
189
:we're not taking our, to you, the driving
term, we're not taking our, our, our foot
190
:off the accelerator in any shape or form.
191
:We're actually, uh, making a very
steady progress to, um, trying to
192
:increase that awareness of all drivers.
193
:audioKevField21403142102: I think
if we can all work together, you
194
:know, it makes everybody happy.
195
:And that's what we try and
put across in our teachings.
196
:But I suppose I always like to look at the
other side of the coin as well, you know.
197
:, what might be the dangers if we don't
follow those four steps, you know?
198
:What might be the dangers
that could happen?
199
:audioalan.hiscox11403142102: Well, horses
are blind animals, you know, they're, um,
200
:I don't want to sort of anthropomorphise
this too much, but they're, they're
201
:acting to a risk assessment that's
thousands and thousands of years old.
202
:So, uh, if they see something
or, sense something that they're
203
:unsure of, then that sort of flight
instinct will come into their brain.
204
:Hence the driver, rider, but
don't forget the horse's brain.
205
:And okay, horses have been
domesticated for, many, many years.
206
:So they have, in some sense,
has been desensitized.
207
:to certain things, but you will never,
ever take that flight instinct, that's
208
:the evolution that will take the flight
instinct away from the horse, you know,
209
:and having been in the mounted police
for, for many, many years, you know,
210
:even police horses, the best trained
police horse will react to something.
211
:It might only be a flick of an ear
or a movement of a muscle because
212
:they have gone through the training
and be desensitized, but they
213
:still have that flight instinct.
214
:So if they're, you know, unsure of
something, they're either going to
215
:try and remove that risk, maybe by
kicking out, they're going to reduce
216
:that risk by moving away from it.
217
:Or they're going to avoid that risk by
turning around and going the other way.
218
:But, if drivers, , can, you know,
adhere to those four messages, then
219
:they help the horse accept that risk.
220
:And then, it may still react,
but only just to a small extent.
221
:So, if just sort of getting into your,
your mind again, that, you know, their,
222
:their brain is working, and they've
got, you know, incredible senses,
223
:so their eyesight You know, having
the eye on either side of the head.
224
:They've got monocular and binocular sight.
225
:And they are set up to see anything and
everything that might cause them an issue.
226
:So, you know, we've got our eyes on
the front of our, our, our heads,
227
:they, they can see things behind them.
228
:So, you know, if, if you're approaching
from behind, they, and, and their
229
:ears, they know that the car's there.
230
:So that whole, , 10 miles an hour,
two meters distance really does.
231
:Does make a difference.
232
:So, yes, a horse could
move suddenly to one side.
233
:They could turn around
and go the other way.
234
:It might not be your car
that's caused the issue.
235
:There might be a bit of flapping
plastic further on in the road.
236
:And that brings me on to another subject.
237
:If a, if a horse rider, You know, asks
a driver to stop or slow down is for
238
:a reason, because they may have seen
something further up ahead that they
239
:know may cause their horse an issue.
240
:So, if, and it says in the
highway code, he riders signals.
241
:You know, if they see something and ask
you to stop, then they, they know that
242
:there's something that may cause, uh,
may cause an issue or, or, or slow down.
243
:So it's, as you, as you mentioned, it's
a partnership approach of everybody,
244
:the driver, the rider, you know, and the
horse wants to play its part as well.
245
:, so yeah, in the, in the worst, in, uh,
you know, worst case scenario, you know,
246
:the horse may sort of suddenly move
across, , and block the car or, you know,
247
:hopefully it doesn't hit it, but, and,
and cars and metal boxes and, and, you
248
:know, horses are quite fragile creatures,
but that's what we want to avoid by all
249
:these, , these messages and, and thoughts.
250
:audioKevField21403142102: I think it's
great, because it's great to know what
251
:to do, but then the dangers, but also
Us working together and, the rider,
252
:actually, their position, and obviously
you know this more because you're,
253
:you're so much higher, you can see over
hedges, you can see further, you can
254
:see, you know, probably more than us,
sitting in this car, you know, so it's,
255
:it's, it's nice if we can, notice the
body language of, of the rider, because
256
:they will tell us information as well.
257
:And I think that's one of
the skills that we don't do
258
:enough is, is notice the rider.
259
:The rider and the horse are working in
tandem, but I think if we can use that,
260
:it's a big clue for us as to what to do.
261
:audioalan.hiscox11403142102: Yeah, it
is, and then, you know, safe passes,
262
:it does, it makes the rider feel good.
263
:And hopefully you will get an
acknowledgement if they can take
264
:their hands off the reins or, you
know, a small, and another thing that
265
:I don't want to sort of stress it's
not just overtaking is if you are
266
:approaching a horse coming towards you.
267
:So, you'll be still asked for those those
messages because You know, you approaching
268
:a horse that's coming towards you, all
those factors can still come into play.
269
:So it's not just overtaking a horse,
it's if you're approaching a horse, , on
270
:a rural road, we ask for those slow
down to the 10 miles an hour and try
271
:and keep that two meters distance.
272
:Um, because yeah, all right,
the horse has got the car in its
273
:sight, it's not behind you, but
still, it's still a moving object.
274
:And And one that could cause the
horse, you know, some, some anxiety,
275
:especially, especially at higher speeds.
276
:Yeah, that, that quick moving.
277
:So that's the thing we see a lot of
is, um, okay, drivers think, yes, I'm
278
:going to overtake the horse and I'm
going to overtake it really slowly.
279
:But when you're coming towards the
horse and you're on the other side
280
:of the road, they still think, Oh,
it's still okay to go past that, you
281
:know, 40 miles an hour or so, where
in actual fact, if the car was just
282
:to slow down as well, it would make,
, everything so much, so much better.
283
:audioKevField21403142102: I think
that's a really important point
284
:because I can imagine drivers thinking
it's only if you're overtaking.
285
:So I think making that really
crystal clear is really important.
286
:But it is because, , if you are
approaching that horse, you're
287
:on the wrong side of the road.
288
:I suppose not so many learners, because,
you know, we, we talk about it, but
289
:I know drivers that will treat it as
a parked car because the horse is so
290
:slow, they treat it as a parked car and
just don't, adhere to the fact of what
291
:might happen, and I, you know, they do
just, I see it so many times where we've
292
:waited back, you know, we can't see, and
all of a sudden this car that's coming
293
:towards them just doesn't slow down.
294
:I just, I don't know what is actually
going through the mind of that driver,
295
:I would love to know, I can guess,
but I would just, I would just love
296
:to know, I just think it's one of
those intriguing thoughts that I have.
297
:audioalan.hiscox11403142102:
Yeah, yeah, no, it is, absolutely,
298
:audioKevField21403142102: I like
the way that you've brought in
299
:talking about the three brains.
300
:Working together or four, even if you've
got another car approaching as well,
301
:because this is one of the conversations
we had this morning before coming on.
302
:We were talking about taking
up the different positions,
303
:putting yourself in the shoes of.
304
:Each of the different positions to
consider what that might feel like.
305
:So whether that's the horse, whether
it's the rider, whether it's the driver
306
:coming the other way, instead of only
thinking about you as a driver and how
307
:it impacts you when you start to take
account of how everybody else is feeling.
308
:That's when you.
309
:Out to that bigger picture and you
are much better able to make a more
310
:balanced decision on what you're gonna
do when you are factoring everybody in.
311
:So that's exactly what
we were gonna talk about.
312
:And you've
313
:audioalan.hiscox11403142102: Well, if
you want to get a horse rider's point
314
:of view, if you go to our website, sphs.
315
:org.
316
:uk, Go the dead slow page and then you,
there is a film there that we made.
317
:, it's actually on a virtual reality
headset if, and that's used by
318
:road safety partnerships, but you
can, um, use it on your tablet.
319
:, it's from the point of view of a rider
when a car goes past too fast or too close
320
:and you can move around the 360, , film
and in fact the horse then rears up so
321
:you can see exactly what it's like to
be, on a horse when, when that happens.
322
:So, yeah.
323
:We're not going to say to people,
well, we're going to put you on a
324
:horse and then we're going to show you
what it's like because, , that's not
325
:quite , what we're after there, but
it's as close as we can get to for a
326
:non rider to, to be on a, on a horse.
327
:And yeah, , it's challenging, you
know, even for experienced riders.
328
:Um, and actually the highway
code uses the term intimidation.
329
:You know, um, it can be intimidating
passing cyclists, pedestrians, horse
330
:riders at inappropriate speeds.
331
:And we all know, just as walking
along a road, when cars whiz past
332
:you, and on bicycles, imagine what
that's like if you're actually
333
:sitting on a horse as well.
334
:So, and we know that, you know, drivers
don't want to be intimidating, but just
335
:the very fact that they are passing,
A little bit too fast or too close
336
:is, is intimidating and I can tell
you, riding a horse around London,
337
:I mean, I know you said that people
don't see horses around London, but
338
:riding a police horse around London,
even though , it was a police horse,
339
:the speeds and how close people got.
340
:You know, it even had stirrups clipped
with vehicles going, going too close.
341
:So, um, yeah, it's, it's, it's challenging
and it's a, it's a very strong word,
342
:intimidation, I know, but, it can,
um, raise the hairs on the back of
343
:your neck, shall we say, a little bit
when, , vehicles pass, , inappropriately.
344
:audioKevField21403142102: is, is
scary and I've, I've seen it, a horse
345
:kick out and actually kicked a car,
346
:audioalan.hiscox11403142102: Yeah.
347
:audioKevField21403142102: it damage.
348
:audioalan.hiscox11403142102: Oh, yes.
349
:Yeah, yeah, yeah, no, and that, that's
why, you know, we asked for that two
350
:audioKevField21403142102: Yeah,
351
:audioalan.hiscox11403142102: Um, and
the other thing is, if you're on a rural
352
:road, and maybe it's, you know, single
or one and a half, , sort of lanes, Uh,
353
:what we're asking, and it says in the
Highway Code as well, just hold back until
354
:you can meet those, those clearances,
and what, and this is the other thing,
355
:there's responsibilities on, you know, no
pun intended, it's a two way street, so
356
:we're saying to horse riders, you know,
there's certain areas of the Highway Code,
357
:and there's certain responsibilities that
we have when we're on the roads, as all
358
:road users have responsibilities, So,
um, you know, we're asking horse riders
359
:to be aware, you know, look behind,
see where everything was going on.
360
:And if you're, you know , there's a car
behind, then perhaps, you know, if there's
361
:a gateway you can pull in to allow the
car to go, or, you know, if you're feeling
362
:confident, just crotch on to the next
area where the car driver , can pass.
363
:So, yeah, there's ways that, , we can
help drivers in the same way that we're
364
:asking drivers to help us as well.
365
:audioKevField21403142102: I don't
think that's really important.
366
:I suppose it goes back to that.
367
:We're working together, aren't we?
368
:And if we all work together,
you know, everybody's happy.
369
:Um, and that is part of what we,
we do on the roads, isn't it?
370
:You know, we, we are.
371
:audioalan.hiscox11403142102: It's that
whole thing about, you know, mutual
372
:respect, and if you haven't got that
mutual respect, that's when you've
373
:got trouble, , on whichever side it
is, you know, riders respecting, , car
374
:drivers, cyclists respecting horse
riders, car drivers respecting cyclists
375
:and horse riders, so yeah, that
whole thing, , and, you know, as
376
:the FT say, everybody respecting.
377
:Has a right to feel safe on
the roads, and that's what
378
:we're all, we're all aiming at.
379
:audioKevField21403142102: Brilliant.
380
:And it's been a real insight as well
to someone that's a horse rider,
381
:because we're coming from a driving
instructor, you know, we're more sort
382
:of like, okay, what would you do?
383
:How would you deal with this?
384
:Because we want to get them into
their mind and start thinking about
385
:where you might find these, these
situations, what might happen.
386
:But coming from a horse rider
like yourself, and you know,
387
:what you do as a profession, too.
388
:I think just highlights the
importance of, , what everybody
389
:is trying to do on the roads.
390
:And I think that's the really
important message, isn't it?
391
:You know, your message,
what might happen?
392
:What will you see?
393
:What will you do?
394
:Yeah.
395
:And it's, it's, it's just, Well,
hopefully it's helped people to just
396
:think a little bit more about what
happens next time I meet that situation.
397
:Yeah, I couldn't think of
my words for a minute then.
398
:I just lost my track, , But yeah, I think
, it's an important message that we don't
399
:normally, , get out to people, you know.
400
:Just, it's another person, road user, on
the road, and we need to respect that,
401
:like we would if it was a cyclist, as
if it was a vulnerable road user, you
402
:know, again, just, just start thinking.
403
:And put yourself in those shoes,
put yourself in the different
404
:positions, , just to get a
feel for what it might be like.
405
:So, Alan, where can people
find those resources?
406
:audioalan.hiscox11403142102: Okay.
407
:Yeah.
408
:If you go onto, our website, so it's, uh,
bhs.org uk, and actually on , the landing
409
:page, , you'll, if you just scroll down
just a, a little bit, you'll see the Dead
410
:slow campaign message, and then you can
go straight through to our, our pages,
411
:uh, for the safety pages, and then you
can go on to all, , there's some films
412
:there, there's some messages from riders.
413
:Uh, there's the, uh,
Virtual Reality 360 film.
414
:There's the Look Out for Laura film,
which shows, a nurse who works during
415
:the day in , a children's department,
and then , she rides, for sort of
416
:relaxation, and there's a firefighter
as well, shows what, um, Julie does
417
:during the day, and then she relaxes
by, by riding a horse on the road.
418
:So we're trying to humanize
the horse rider as well,
419
:because that's the other thing.
420
:You're, you're driving along, yeah, that,
that horse rider could be a nurse, could
421
:be a doctor, could be a firefighter.
422
:And so, yeah, there's, again,
we're coming back to this, the
423
:respect, isn't it, , for everybody.
424
:, so there's, there's lots and
lots of things on our website.
425
:And as you know, we, we'd be
very happy to come along to
426
:any sort of driving instructor.
427
:Events and, um, and talk to driving
instructors because, you know,
428
:you, you are very important in the
whole process of getting people
429
:to, to drive safely on the road.
430
:So, yeah, anything that, um,
that we can do to help, uh,
431
:we'd be delighted to do that.
432
:audioKevField21403142102: Fantastic.
433
:Is there anything else that
you would like to cover today?
434
:audioalan.hiscox11403142102: Um, just
reemphasizing , those four messages, you
435
:know, the, if I see a horse on the road,
then I will slow down to that maximum
436
:10 miles an hour, I will be patient, I
won't sound my horn or rev my engine,
437
:and when safe to do so, I'll pass slow
and wide, at least two meters distance,
438
:and then drive slowly away, and I, I
think, you know, they call me a one trick
439
:pony, and I call myself a one trick pony
because, you know, That really is the
440
:whole, the whole messaging and what we've
talked about this morning as well is all
441
:around the edges that adds context to
why we're asking those those messages.
442
:So no, thank you very much for the
opportunity and great to see you again.
443
:And I look forward to meeting you again
at another driving instructor conference.
444
:So yeah, thanks for the opportunity.
445
:audioKevField21403142102: Fantastic.
446
:Thank you so much for joining us.
447
:I really hope that people have found
that helpful and informative and now
448
:have a little bit of extra knowledge
maybe to feel less nervous next
449
:time they meet a horse on the road.
450
:So we have one final question
that we always ask people.
451
:Alan thought he was done.
452
:Alan's face has now just changed.
453
:So, thinking back to when you
was learning to drive, Alan, what
454
:did you find most challenging?
455
:audioalan.hiscox11403142102:
That's a very, very good question.
456
:I was in the police action.
457
:I got, I got taught by a police officer.
458
:instructor, because, that's, that's the
way it was, you, you joined as 18 years
459
:old, and you, um, they, they taught you
to drive, and the thing that I found most
460
:challenging was clutch control, believe
it or not, , yeah, I can't even remember
461
:if there were automatic cars back in those
days, I don't know, but, yeah, the clutch,
462
:the clutch control, but once, I'd mastered
the clutch control, so everything else
463
:sort of, I didn't have to worry about,
you know, if you're going to judder once
464
:you actually started moving smoothly.
465
:So, yeah, I suppose clutch control.
466
:audioKevField21403142102: Brilliant.
467
:Perfect.
468
:Lovely.
469
:And so, what piece of
advice would you give to our
470
:listeners, any of our listeners
471
:audioalan.hiscox11403142102:
who are struggling with
472
:clutch control at the moment?
473
:Love
474
:Crikey, um, I suppose it's, it's not,
it's not to sort of panic and think
475
:too much in to it and just relax
and get that, get that, that feel.
476
:I can remember just Being able
to almost feel when the clutch
477
:was starting to, um, to engage.
478
:So, and as soon as I sort of
took that whole, Oh God, the
479
:car's going to jump or not.
480
:It just, and then it just, it
just falls into place, I suppose.
481
:Relax and, um, just treat it
as a, as another part of the
482
:whole driving experience really.
483
:And, um, gosh, yes.
484
:I don't know.
485
:I really put me on the spot.
486
:Yeah.
487
:I don't know.
488
:It took me a little while.
489
:I've got to say, you know, and
being in a, in a police car that
490
:started going, do, do, do, do, do,
it put even more pressure on me.
491
:But, um, yeah, I suppose
practice makes perfect.
492
:There you go.
493
:We'll go for that one.
494
:audioKevField21403142102: Oh, thank
you so much for sharing that because
495
:we do like to ask our guests because
that's really helpful for listeners
496
:who are struggling with things.
497
:The more that we can share that
actually we've all struggled with
498
:different things, even if we don't now,
that it just, it just normalizes it.
499
:So, um, yeah, brilliant.
500
:Thank you.
501
:audioalan.hiscox11403142102:
Practice makes perfect.
502
:Perfect practice makes perfect.
503
:There, that's it, I think.
504
:audioKevField21403142102:
Well, there we go.
505
:We've got that.
506
:Love it.
507
:Well, Alan, thank you so much for
joining us today and giving up your time.
508
:Um, it's been brilliant.
509
:Yeah.
510
:Thank you very
511
:audioalan.hiscox11403142102: okay.
512
:All the best.