A BOLTON fireman is launching a campaign to improve the safety of horses and their riders on the road. Kirk Cornwall, who is based at Farnworth Fire Station, says a number of recent accidents have spurred him into action before something tragic happens. Kirk, who is a keen rider himself, knows through his job the devastating effects of an accident involving a horse.

He regularly has to pull horses out of ditches and knows of firefighters who have had to attend traffic accidents where horses and riders have been badly injured.

But he says other people need to be more aware to prevent accidents from happening.

Campaign

Kirk, of Thicketford Road, Tonge Moor, is launching a two-pronged campaign aimed at horse riders and motorists.

"This isn't just a pop at car drivers," said Kirk. "Horse riders have to take the responsibility too. And if everyone was just a bit more careful, many accidents could be prevented."

The 32-year-old has even had a few near misses himself while out riding and says drivers often criticise riders for riding two abreast on busy roads. But Kirk says there is a valid reason for this. "Mounted police always travel two abreast," he said. "The idea is to shield a more inexperienced horse in case it gets frightened, which in the end also makes it safer for motorists."

The campaign, co-ordinated by Kirk with the help of friends Heather Crowder and Christine Campbell, will be called The Bolton and District RADARS (Rider and Driver Awareness on the Road Scheme), and will run in association with the British Horse Safety 2000 campaign which is currently being supported by the RAC and Noel Edmonds.

The BHS are a national body who have a department entirely dedicated to road safety and they provide numerous initiatives aimed at educating both horse riders and drivers.

"As of January 1999, it is now law that all accidents involving horse riders on the roads have to be recorded by police," said Kirk. "This means that riders now have the power to report these matters to the police and something can be done.

"My aim with RADARS is to highlight that the BHS can and will advise on road safety matters to both parties and for this to be an ongoing project through local stable yards and riding clubs. I have arranged to meet with the BHS North West representative to discuss further initiatives and the possibility of providing myself with BHS qualifications."

Killed

Official figures reveal there are approximately 3000 accidents involving horses each year on the roads and around 16 people are killed. But this could be at least three times higher due to the lack of readily available statistics.

Among the places Kirk is hoping to get the safety message across is at local shows and he hopes to involve Greater Manchester Police's mounted division and traffic police.

"The show season starts in March and I hope to start getting the message across," he said. "A fluorescent vest costs £5 - and that is not a lot considering it could save a fortune in vet bills - or even a life."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.