A NATIONAL campaign which aims to make drivers aware of horse safety saw a strong turnout in Bradford on Sunday morning.

The Pass Wide and Slow campaign was born around three and a half years ago, as a way of trying to create safer roads for those not in a car, including horses, pedestrians and cyclists.

Sunday's event, one of 70 or so in the UK, saw campaigners start off from Buck Lane and walk a short distance along Otley Road.

Riders, walkers, ponies and cyclists all joined in and there were several officers from Shipley Police Force.

Julie Evans, who was part of the event, explained that the hope is to create awareness and understanding between drivers and others on the roads, rather than hostility.

She said: "We ride from Buck Lane and to get to bridleways and Baildon Moor, we have to cross the main A6038 Otley Road, which is directly opposite Roundwood Road.

"We have had cars coming out of Roundwood Road that rev up so fast to get across before us.

"Our horses can spook at over 30 miles per hour, and many cars can do a lot faster than that pulling out of that junction."

"There were some teens riding in the area last Saturday and a car nearly hit them. The lady behind stopped but instead of seeing if they were okay, she had a go instead.

"We find that a lot of cars tend to have no patience with us and they use their vehicles to cause our horses to panic, which can be ever so dangerous.

"We have been lucky compared to some, who have lost their horses or even their own lives.

"Every road incident is reported and the police will go and speak to drivers. However a lot do not take any notice at all.

"We get yelled at with comments like “you need to be riding in the fields”, “you need to stick to bridleways”, “you don’t belong on the roads” etc.

"It's hard to stomach sometimes. In a perfect world, we would have these bridleways to ride on and lots more off road tracks but people have built their houses on what was our playgrounds."

Debbie Smith began the campaign in September 2015 and she said: "We need to change the law to make it a legal requirement to have to slow and pass a horse wide.

"Drivers have to be able to abide our hand signals to stop and slow.

"To reinforce this, we need to be riding with head cameras to gather the evidence to give to the police. As it stands at the moment action can only be taken if we can prove careless driving.

"By that time, it is generally too late and the accident between the car, horse and rider has already happened.

"We need to be able to ask a car to stop to prevent an accident happening, as if the driver is caught on camera, they will get fined and charged.

"The statistics of accidents and deaths has risen sharply in the last 10 years and this needs to decline.

"We need respect from drivers to help save lives. Please join Pass Wide and Slow and help support our campaign."