Operation to educate drivers on sharing Angus roads with horses

The Tayside Division team are pictured during the operation.

More than 30 drivers were stopped on rural roads in Angus recently during an operation to educate motorists about driving near horses.

Operation ‘Lose the Blinkers’ took pace around the Barry and Monikie areas and was in response to reports from horse riders about antisocial driving

The operation aims to instruct both drivers and horse riders on how to share the county’s roads safely.

The two-day exercise It was delivered by PC Hunter, PC Kinlan and Police Horses Abercorn and Lanark from the Mounted Unit, with officers from the Road Policing Unit and the local Carnoustie Community Policing Team

A total of 36 drivers were stopped and given advice regarding their manner of driving while one driver is to be reported for a driving offence.

A spokesperson for Tayside Division said: “It was good to see considerate and careful driving for the most part, and in 10 specific instances, we had the pleasure of thanking drivers for their exceptional care and attention. Thanks to those who came across to speak to our horses at Monikie Country Park and to local residents for providing water for them when they were out and about.

Inspector Mahboob Ahmad of Carnoustie Police Office added: “Our roads are a shared space, and I would encourage all that use them to respect each other’s needs”.

With many horse riders in Angus, motorists are being encouraged to be aware as they drive around the countryside and remember to: Be Safe, slow down or stop and give the horse room to react.