Traffic incidents involving horses can be prosecuted using Operation Snap

Traffic incidents involving horses and riders can be prosecuted by the police using video footage through Operation Snap.

Operation Snap is not just for equestrian-related incidents, but any video and/or photographic evidence from members of the public in relation to witnessed driving offences.

With more cars on the roads, interactions between riders and drivers are becoming more common, and some can be dangerous. With more and more riders taking to wearing helmet-cams or other video recording equipment on their rides, this means that Operation Snap can really come into play. 

Neighbourhood Watch released their Horse Watch newsletter, which included this case study: 

"A few weeks ago, one of our members was riding his horse down a single-track lane when a vehicle approached him from behind.

"The vehicle came very close to the rear of his horse - even after the rider had requested very politely for the driver to stay back until he reached a gateway. This was a place which would allow the driver to pass him safely and was only yards away! The driver of the vehicle still kept creeping forwards even after being asked on several occasions by the rider to stay back.

"A few seconds later the rider reached the gateway and put his horse in a safe place. The rider then waved the vehicle through but as the vehicle got alongside the horse and rider the driver sounded his horn in anger. Fortunately, the rider’s horse did not react badly, but the situation could have been a lot worse if it was a young or inexperienced horse.

"The rider always wears a head cam whilst out riding and the incident was fully captured on this. The member contacted us regarding the incident and after viewing the footage he was encouraged to report the incident to Op Snap.

"A couple of days later he received notification from OP Snap that they had viewed the footage and that the driver of the vehicle would be issued with a Notice of Intended Prosecution. This process involves identifying the driver of the vehicle at the time of the incident and directs a proposed resolution such as prosecution or an out of court disposal such as a penalty notice with an endorsement on your licence or payment and attendance to a driver training programme.

"Due to the high volume of cases reported to The OP Snap team most of these cases are resolved within 4-6 months of the initial report.

"We encourage you all to report these traffic offences to Op Snap to ensure that as riders we feel safer on the roads and drivers are made more aware of how to drive safely around horses."

To find out more, or to submit video or photo evidence to Devon and Cornwall Police, visit: operationsnap.devon-cornwall.police.uk