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Summer is the Time for Driving Safety

With the arrival of better weather, we are all gearing up for another summer of driving. In addition to recreational driving, we will attend picnics, pleasure shows, clinics, parades, combined driving events and so much more. We love to drive, and we must always plan to drive safely.

We drivers are the ones responsible for maintaining safe driving conditions. While some may qualify this or disagree, drivers are indeed the ones responsible. We are responsible for our equipment and training, for selecting and preparing for our driving environment.

In the interests of safety, I believe it is critical to establish a routine during both preparation and driving. I set reasonable expectations and goals for my experience, making my overall goal to return from my drive safe and sound. Because many of us are forced to drive alone, actively practicing safety is paramount.

Here are my top 10 tips for staying safe. I hope you will find them helpful in your safe driving summer.

Your harness and vehicle must be in sound condition, suited to each other and adjusted to fit your horse or pony.

You must know your horse or pony well enough to anticipate how he will react to the environment you select. Avoid putting a horse or pony into a frightening environment or an overfacing situation.

When driving in company, leave sufficient distance between you and the vehicle in front of you, allowing time for changes of pace or direction.

When driving, alone or with a group, stay alert and look well ahead to give yourself time to prepare and to avoid potential problems.

Avoid driving on public roads at dawn, dusk or after dark. If this cannot be avoided, reflective clothing and carriage lights or reflectors are essential.

Your whip is not an accessory. It is an aid and should always be in your hand. If your whip is too heavy, too cumbersome or has the wrong balance, find one that will work for you and CARRY IT.

Wear gloves. They provide additional grip, protect your hands and reduce hand fatigue. If the gloves you’re using aren’t working for you, find a pair that does and WEAR THEM.

ALWAYS wear a helmet. If your helmet is uncomfortable, find one that is comfortable and will protect your head and WEAR IT.

Approach pedestrians, bike riders and other horses with care. Use a vocal warning or alert to give the rider/handler time to prepare for your approach.

Be the first person in the carriage and last out, always holding the lines.

(Bonus tip) Use common sense. Many an accident can be avoided by its timely application.

I’ll close with this short story. On a recent drive I added four 20-liter Gerry cans of water to the back step of my carriage to supply additional weight for conditioning. Halfway to my training location two of the cans dislodged from the step and were dragging behind the carriage. The added noise and the change in the carriage’s pull weight made Pharoah uncomfortable. I found a dirt road and pulled off the busy highway. Even with all the miles 19-year-old Pharaoh has seen, he would not stand still. After sitting for a few minutes collecting my thoughts and working with Pharoah to settle him, I realized my only safe option was to unhitch before resetting the displaced cans. With Pharoah unhitched and lines firmly in hand, I reattached the cans (more securely this time) and hitched Pharoah to continue our drive. I believe looking forward, remaining calm, and seeking a resolution averted a potential accident. It would have been easy for the situation to get out of control. When things go wrong, remain calm. Deal with the immediate threat (location, emotion, reaction) and find a solution that preserves the safety of you, your horse, and your passengers. If I can, you can, too!

I sincerely hope you all have a safe driving summer!

Have an absolutely GREAT driving day!
—Donna Hornsby, Publisher
July 2007