Drivers urged to pass horses with care on Dartmoor

Motorists are being urged to drive more carefully on Dartmoor to help cut the number of animals injured or killed.

Devon and Cornwall Police said 144 animals, including ponies, cattle and sheep, were killed on Dartmoor's roads in 2024.

Rangers, members of the emergency services and the British Horse Society have carried out patrols to encourage drivers to pass animals slowly and safely.

Sgt Owen Messenger, from the roads policing team, said: "Dartmoor is home to many animals who roam the area freely, so it's important that motorists take extra care, drive to the conditions and abide by speed limits."

Rural affairs officer PC Lucy Wyatt said horses were "unpredictable and can spook easily".

"So, if you come across a horse on the road, aim to give them at least two metres (6.56ft) of space and pass at no more than 10mph (16km/h)," she said.

The campaign forms part of Operation Gallop, a national initiative to highlight equine crime, welfare and road safety.

Sgt Messenger said: "Collisions between vehicles and animals across the moor is something that, unfortunately, happens frequently."

He advised anyone involved in a collision with an animal on Dartmoor to report it to police so officers could check whether the animal would need treatment.

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