‘We’re avoiding the main roads’ – horse rider says dangerous overtaking getting worse
Diane Taylor says riders need to develop ‘nerves of steel’ to go out
HORSE riders do not feel safe on Shetland’s roads anymore after a series of incidents involving dangerous overtaking by drivers.
That is the view of Diane Taylor, who said horse riders were having to develop “nerves of steel” to venture out onto the roads, with drivers overtaking at high speeds “far too often”.
It comes after Taylor’s friend was thrown to the ground in May when a driver overtook them at double the legal speed limit for passing horses near Sumburgh Airport.
And another drive also overtook a horse in the same area at speed in October 2025 when rushing to catch a flight, causing another horse to be spooked and to throw its rider to the ground.
Both incidents lead to convictions and driving bans at Lerwick Sheriff Court.
Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie last week criticised the speed with which some drivers overtake horses in the isles.
“This is yet another case which is indicative of the need for drivers on Shetland roads to take much more care when they overtake horses,” he said.
Taylor agreed and said horse riders now felt like they were taking their lives in their hands when they went out on to the main roads.
“Unfortunately, it’s happening too often really,” she told Shetland News following one conviction last week.
“It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say most times we will encounter unsafe driving.
“Often there will be an unsafe passing and no consequence, but just last Thursday I was on the main road and there were three different drivers approaching too fast that I had to tell to slow down.
“It’s just an awareness thing – nobody is doing it deliberately.
“Generally people are still not understanding how slowly they need to pass horses.”
That was the case at court last week, with the court hearing that the driver had slowed down to 21mph to pass the two horse riders.
However the Highway Code states drivers can only pass horses at speeds not exceeding 10mph.
The horse in the incident was spooked by the high speed and noisy vehicle.
Taylor said it was a “bad experience to be involved in”, and “difficult to witness” her friend being unnecessarily hurt.
She said that most people reading last week’s court story probably thought that it was “not excessive speed”.
“Twenty one miles per hour is excessive if you’re a horse,” Taylor explained.
“A lot of people aren’t aware that 10mph is what is required, and have been slowing down but not enough, not to a safe speed.”
While she said there will “always be a small minority” of drivers who do not care about the safety of other road users, she felt most drivers were unaware of the rules around safely overtaking horses.
She said they were working with the community council in the Sumburgh area and have met with the SIC’s roads department about getting better signage in the area.
Another idea has been for a radio campaign and advertising at Mareel.
And Taylor said they were hopeful of getting the CCTV footage from May’s incident – which was captured by HIAL at Sumburgh Airport – to use in a campaign showing how even speeds of 21mph can terrify a horse.
She said there seemed to be some confusion about the difference between overtaking cyclists and horses.
“You have to give a cyclist plenty of space but speed is not as much a factor,” she said.
“That is the key difference – we need space as well but you have to slow down to 10mph.
“The driver in this court case went out on the other carriageway, so he gave us the width, but he was still doing twice the speed. That is why there was an accident.”
Asked if the recent incidents were putting horse riders off, Taylor said they were having to develop “nerves of steel”.
“We’re definitely avoiding the main roads more than we used to,” she said.
“Very few of us will go on the main road for any distance.
“I think if we could eliminate being on the roads entirely we would, but then you’re essentially giving up your pastime.”
And she said it was pleasing that Lerwick Sheriff Court was taking these incidents seriously.
“Hopefully it’s sending a clear message that it will be taken seriously if you do an unsafe passing,” she added.
Shetland area commander Chris Sewell said drivers need to be aware of all the rules of the Highway Code and especially what it says about overtaking horses safely.
“We’ve all got a responsibility,” he told Shetland News.
“We’ve seen the consequences if you pass and startle horses and the dangers of that.
“If it’s reported to the police we take it seriously. Drivers should certainly take heed of that in the sense of the court convictions; it certainly reflects that seriousness.”
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its readers to consider paying for membership to get additional perks:
- Removal of third-party ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
