Why r some riders so ignorent on the roads.

[izzy]

Xmas morning my BF and i were driving to my parents when we came upon 3 riders(1adult/mother and 2 children) all wearing hi viz and riding single file through the village.My bf slowed down to allow them to overtake a parked car, not one of them checked for traffic behind or signaled that they were pulling out.As we passed they didn't even acknowledge us with so much as a look let alone a smile.I made some comment about stopping the car and having a moan at them but my bf kept going.Then i realized that the rider comes on here very often and feel that as a responsible mother/adult she should at least teach her children some road safety and manners. I am not going to name and shame but this is what gives horses on the road a bad name and probably part of the reason why some drivers do not slow down etc............

[Casper]

It makes me cross when riders don't even nod their head or mouth thank you when drivers have slowed down for them. I appreciate that maybe there are times when you can't take your hands off of the reins but a nod of the head in those circumstances works wonders.

[HeatherL*]

I agree and always try to be well mannered and give big smiley thank you's. I guess just as their are ignorant rude car drivers their are rude riders who don't acknowledge drivers as they should or take care to be aware of what's going on around them on the road!

[Lynsey]

I have to agree. I stopped for several minutes when I was driving the other day to let a mother and child come along a narrow road and pass safely. I smiled and waved thinking that they would do the same and got a look from the woman as if I was something nasty on the bottom of her shoe. Luckily the kid nodded to say thanks but the woman was setting such a bad example. I can see how non horsey people might next time not bother stopping or slowing down. It's 20 years since I did my Riding and Road Safety Cert but that drilled into me the importance of thanking and acknowledging every driver, not just the ones who slow right down.

[Bay Mare]

Totally agree with you.

I was driving to the yard this morning on a single lane, winding and fast road. I could see 2 horses in the distance, no hi viz, riding abreast (fair enough) but a car behind them doing everything that we would want a car driver to do. It was a couple of minutes later when I got up to them, slowed down and moved as far over as possible. The poor car driver was STILL behind them. They were totally oblivious, riding on the buckle and having a good old chat. There's no wonder that car drivers get p'd off with us!

[sunnylynn11]

The very first thing my kids learnt before they went out on the roads was how to put their reins in one hand and wave thank you, manners cost nothing

[kt with Hanni]

Agree with you all. I always make an effort, although some still don't slow down...

[morwenstowstud]

Can I put another view across...


You said your boyfriend slowed down to allow them to go past some parked cars. Maybe this made them think that as you were letting them go, they didn't need to signal. Daft yes, but not necessarily rude.

You said they were all wearing hi viz gear and riding single file, so they arte obviously safety concious. Maybe that's why none of the riders raised a hand. Maybe they are being taught that when you ride on the road you keep both hands on the reins. Especially being children. I teach my daughter to keep both hands on the reins. She's often riding a young pony and taking one hand off the reins to raise a hand is not a great idea. She always nods and smiles. The question is, is the driver always looking when she does? Realistically she can't sit there nodding like the Churchill dog and grinning like a cheshire cat for 5 mins so the driver see's. Often she's concentrating on riding carefully and a quick nod and smile is all she can manage.

I'm not saying true rudeness and ignorance is good, but what I call ignorance is riding two, even 3 abreast and not moving over to let traffic past. Using a mobile phone/smoking while riding. Having little control or consideration for other road users. If I pass a string of properly kitted out child riders, single file, riding fairly considerately, I wouldn't really expect a wave. Id' rather they concentrated on riding because it's winter, the roads are slippery and visibility is bad.

Try thinking from another angle before you judge. Sometimes aknowledgment isn't always possible, or isn't always seen.

[Jaydurh]

I agree with morewenstow stud. Also for all they know they might be annoyed by people speeding past. This may also make the horses fizzy and spooky. From first hand experience keeping under concentration is more important than manners in situations. I'm no saint for hi viz so give them that credit. Maybe they had other things on their mind.

[mags]

I dont like hacking it company as I get so fustrated at ppl's rudeness to driver's. Even a smile to a driver thats slowed down takes nothing.

I even smile and thanks the ones that dont slow down. I think good manners ad been pleasant to drivers is incedabley important when it me again there car!

[KoLaTo]

My daughter nods rather than waves sometimes if we are out with the youngster which means i don't have a hand free, she will raise her hand if it is safe to do so but i have taught her total concentration on the road which means both hands on the reins at her age.

But i would have expected the adult to wave thanks for them.

[morwenstowstud]

Maybe the adult did and it was missed. A raised hand takes a second, and could easily be missed. Surely no one can be expected to wave franticaly for 5 minutes just to make sure a driver sees?

[ooo_banana]

your not supposed to wave just a smile or a nod lol sorry, i'm doing my R&R safety test ATM (:

[morwenstowstud]

Exactly. Both hands on reins at all times on the road. A smile and a nod is so easily missed. I don't think it's fair to assume people are rude or ignorant just because a driver didn't see an aknowledgement. Maybe the driver missed it.

[mags]

I do agree with that, the amount of times iv done a smile and nod knowing full well the driver hasnt seen me