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Check out this article in the Horse and Hound online magasine - this time a two year old filly has been decapitated by a car driver - please drive slowly and more carefully on the New Forest.
Horse and Hound article
Accidents on the forest roads, involving ponies and other animals are often the result of beautiful winter sunsets, like the one above and the early dark nights.
They can be very bad news for the ponies and other animals. Road deaths or injuries involving the animals you see every day and grow to love, are the worst part of living on the forest.
A friend of mine, a Commoner, lost a 6 week old foal this year. It was a hit and run, probably by a lorry, which may or may not have known it hit the poor little chap. It was also probably instantaneous, which is better. However, this was the mares first baby ever and so her trauma was extreme.
New Forest road deaths rise year on year. I find it
horrible and extemely upsetting (who wouldn't!) to see dead or dying victims either in or beside the road - especially when it could often be avoided.
These road deaths should be extemely rare. The ponies,
donkeys, cows and pigs have the right to roam the Forest
and they should always be given the right of way.
The autumn clock change is the most dangerous time for all the New Forest animals!
I've met people who think the animals are a nuisance!
How amazing is that? I've also been advised to "drive on"
if I hit one, rather than incur a large fine - as if I could drive on.
To me living on the New Forest is a privilege - the fact that I
am surrounded by ponies, donkeys, cows and pigs in a beautiful
environment is a unique privilege - why would I not respect
this?
The really sad fact is that many of these
incidents are caused by local people.
They often either live within the
National Park or on its borders
and so cut across it to go to work etc.
Visitors tend to view the forest as the
unique place it is and slow down
to see the beauty of a donkey or piglet
crossing the road in front of them.
Here are some steps you can take if driving on the forest roads
Slow down - the speed limit is 40m.p.h (30m.p.h in some areas)
Take extra care at night - most incidents happen at night
Look out for reflective neckbands - it means an animal so slow down
If you witness an accident - report it - there is a £1000 reward for
information leading to a successful prosecution - they may take more care next time
New Forest animal accidents to ponies, donkeys, cows, pigs and deer can be
reported using this really handy new card which has been produced by the
New Forest National Parks Authourity
I've downloaded it and keep it in my car:
This
Emergency card for New Forest animal accidents
will open a 2 page PDF document which you can print off and save.
(Go to the top of the page and page down to 2 for the next page and the emergency numbers)
Just in case you may have trouble printing this off here are the numbers:
Police Emergency 24 hrs 999
Police Non emergency 0845 045 4545
Forestry Commission 24 hrs 023 8028 3141
Verderers Office 9am to 5pm Mon to Fri 023 8028 2052
When you drive on the roads you may see a yellow triangle by
the roadside. This means one (or more) ponies, donkeys, cows or pigs may have been killed or seriously injured within the last week.
It will look like this
This may be an area where road kill or injury figures are high so please take extra care - you never know what might be round the next corner, but you can be sure they have no road sense at all!
Please help to make the coming seasons as safe
as possible on the roads.
Help to keep all the ponies, donkeys, cows and
pigs (and piglets) safe.
We can enjoy seeing them each time we go out
into the beautiful and unique New Forest....
.... and know we've played our part in keeping them safe.
Share your views on New Forest animal accidents.
What are your views on the New Forest accidents each year? Share it here!
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Why don't drivers respect the New Forest animals more?
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Every day I drive over the New Forest I see drivers going too fast! Why don't they slow down? Have you ever hit an animal? the impact on your car will ...
If you want to search New Forest Life.com without using the navigation bars on the left, then here's a really useful Google tool.
Just put your search details e.g. pigs in the search box and hit Search and you can choose to search my site or go onto the Web and come back to NewForest-Life.com.
Please help to make the coming seasons as safe
as possible on the roads.
