Horse riders will be taking to the saddle this weekend (September 10) to remind drivers of the new rules of safety under the revised Highway Code.

Equestrian Jane Richardson is leading the ride which is starting out at 11am in Chilcompton.

She told Nub News that although several local companies, including haulage firms, are noted for the courtesy to those on horseback, she herself has been involved in many near misses. Which is why she was keen to support the national Pass Slow And Wide campaign.

The ride is to draw attention to the recent changes to the Highway Code, which mean horse riders and cyclists should be passed exactly like that - wide so allowing two metres between the driver's car and the bike or horse - and at 10 mph.

The ride, from the 30mph speed sign alongside the Mulberry Factory in Chilcompton, will pass through the village and then back along Rock Road.

The riders, who will be joined by walkers and cyclists, say they need to use roads to take their horses onto land and quieter places for exercise and that they always wear hi viz so that they can be seen from a distance by drivers.

There is also another misunderstanding that Jane is keen to stress and that is that riders (and cyclists) CAN ride two abreast in certain situations for safety. She added: " Drivers also should not rev their engines when they are passing . They need to be reminded that walkers, riders and cyclists take precedence over cars. But we want to improve safety for all road users.

"There have been near misses and we want to improve safety for all. Local companies have supported the ride - Massey Wilcox and Champions lorries are always very courteous to us and other road users. "

The Pass Wide and Slow Ride is part of a national campaign for raising road safety awareness and comes as a recent survey by the AA showed that 61% of drivers HAVE NOT read the new Highway Code rules. The motoring group surveyed 13,327 members, with almost two-thirds saying they have not read January's new rules. Those included guidance on safely overtaking cyclists, encouraging vehicle occupants to use the Dutch Reach technique to avoid dooring riders, and giving cyclists and pedestrians priority at junctions without traffic signals.

The new rules also established a hierarchy of road users aimed at making the roads safer for the most vulnerable, with those road users with the most potential to do harm told to protect those more vulnerable.