Pass Wide and Slow: Awareness rides across Aotearoa NZ
Pass Wide and Slow is the behaviour we want all drivers across Aotearoa New Zealand to follow when they see a horse and rider on the road.
Horse riders and carriage drivers from over 40 locations around Aotearoa will come together on Saturday 14th or Sunday 15th September 2024 to promote a message they know will save lives - Slow down and give horses and riders at least 2 metres when passing.
Find out more about Pass Wide and Slow awareness rides in NZ (New Zealand Equestrian Advocacy Network).
The frequency of incidents and near misses is too great to ignore
Currently equestrians sit on the fringe of transport legislation with little to no targeted road safety education. The driver licensing system is an area of concern too, with no theory or practical testing on how to approach and pass a horse and rider.
That makes horse riders the most vulnerable group on the road according to equestrian advocates.
Over 30 equestrian organisations are backing a Petition to the Government for horse riders to be formally recognised as a Vulnerable Road User in transport legislation. The entire horse-riding community is united for improved status in road safety and inclusion in offroad pathways.
Find out more about the petition to Government to give Vulnerable Road User Status for NZ horse riders, including how to sign. The petition closes on Monday 14th October 2024.
Lives are at stake and horse riders are leading the change they require. PASS WIDE AND SLOW (PWAS) high vis vests are being rolled out across the country with support of the road safety message coming from New Zealand Police, the trucking transport sector and the Automotive Association.
Waka Kotahi has recently responded to an offer made by the PWAS NZ team to provide targeted road safety messaging to address the current gap. A very exciting and important start to the long term collaboration we need.
Everybody has a role to play in preventing trauma, injury and death on the road. We want those in charge to look after us. After all, we are your preschool teachers, social workers, psychologists, firefighters, Police, Journalists - this country’s mums, dads and children.
Find out more about Pass Wide and Slow NZ (Facebook).