As autumn evenings grow darker and visibility deteriorates, drivers are being urged to take extra care around pedestrians and horse riders, particularly on rural roads and poorly lit streets.
Breakdown and road safety organisation GEM Motoring Assist is backing the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Operation Dark Night, highlighting the importance of giving vulnerable road users sufficient time and space to travel safely.
Its advice is straightforward: look carefully, reduce your speed and never attempt to squeeze past someone when there is insufficient room.
The dangers behind the warning
The scale of the problem is illustrated by figures cited by GEM. Department for Transport statistics show that 364 pedestrians were killed and 5,958 seriously injured in road collisions across Great Britain during 2025.
Horse riders face their own risks. The British Horse Society recorded 2,810 road incidents involving horses in 2025, including 59 horse deaths and injuries to 86 people.
Behind these figures are everyday journeys: people walking home, children crossing roads, dog walkers using country lanes and riders exercising their horses. All can become more difficult to spot when daylight fades, particularly in rain, mist or the glare of approaching headlights.
Passing horses safely: slow down and leave room
One of GEM’s central messages concerns the safe passing of horses. “Drivers should slow to under 10mph when passing horses, leaving at least two metres of space. If there is insufficient room to pass safely, they should wait until a suitable opportunity arises.”
This reflects Highway Code Rule 215, which recognises that horses can be unpredictable and may react suddenly to noise, movement or an unfamiliar vehicle.
Drivers should avoid sounding their horn or accelerating sharply when approaching or passing a horse. If there is not enough room to overtake safely, the correct response is to wait until the road ahead provides a suitable opportunity.
Extra care is particularly important on narrow country lanes, where high hedges, bends and limited passing places can make it difficult to see riders until the last moment.
Pedestrians need protection too
GEM is also reminding drivers to give pedestrians walking in the road at least two metres of clearance, passing slowly and waiting behind where there is insufficient space.
This is especially relevant in rural communities where roads may have no pavement, leaving walkers little choice but to share the carriageway with traffic.
At junctions, drivers should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross the road into which, or from which, they are turning, in line with the Highway Code.
GEM head of road safety James Luckhurst said: “Whether you’re driving through a village, approaching a crossing or rounding a country bend, expect someone ahead who needs your consideration.”
He added: “Give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross when you turn into or out of a junction. These small acts of awareness and courtesy help everyone get home safely.”
Halloween brings additional risks
With Halloween approaching, GEM is highlighting another seasonal concern: children moving between houses during the early evening, sometimes wearing dark costumes that can make them difficult to see.
Drivers travelling through residential streets should be particularly alert to children emerging from between parked vehicles, crossing unexpectedly or gathering near junctions.
Reducing speed is one of the simplest ways to create more time to react. It also reduces the distance a vehicle travels before the driver can respond to a developing hazard.
The end of British Summer Time adds to the challenge, bringing darkness earlier into the afternoon and increasing the likelihood of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists sharing busy roads in fading light.
Five simple precautions for autumn driving
- Reduce speed where visibility is restricted. Expect pedestrians, cyclists or horse riders beyond bends, hedges and parked vehicles.
- Give vulnerable road users sufficient space. Leave at least two metres when passing horses or pedestrians in the road, and keep to 10mph or below when passing horses.
- Be especially careful at junctions. Look for pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross before turning.
- Keep windows, lights and mirrors clean. Autumn rain, road spray and low sunlight can make hazards harder to identify.
- Be patient. If there is not enough space to pass safely, remain behind until conditions improve.
M.E. Verdict: A few seconds could save a life
Road safety campaigns sometimes concentrate on complicated technology or changes in legislation. GEM’s latest reminder focuses instead on something every driver can control: consideration for other people.
On a narrow lane, a few seconds spent waiting behind a horse rider or pedestrian may feel inconvenient. But the consequences of attempting a risky overtake can be far more serious.
James Luckhurst sums up the message: “Sharing roads safely starts with respect. A few seconds spent waiting for a safe place to pass can make all the difference.”
As autumn turns towards winter, slowing down and looking out for those who have less protection on the road remains one of the most effective contributions any motorist can make to safer journeys.
Source: GEM Motoring Assist, citing Department for Transport road casualty statistics and British Horse Society road incident records for 2025. Road-user guidance references the Highway Code.
