Vulnerable Road User status for Equestrians is needed NOW!
The work to elevate horse rider status in transport legislation has been an incredibly positive journey, and a case for a raft of change now sits with central Government for consideration.
About the Vunerable Road User (VRU) Submission
In October 2024, PWASNZ kaupapa lead, Julia McLean, submitted the VRU petition to the NZ Government with close to 9,000 signatures of support.
The VRU Petition was endorsed by New Zealand Equestrian Advocacy Network (NZEAN) with the support of New Zealand Riding for the Disabled (NZRDA), Equestrian Sports New Zealand (ESNZ), The New Zealand Pony Club Association (NZPCA) and Te Hapori Hōiho - National Māori Horse Association Aotearoa Trust requested an amendment to the Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004 to formally recognise the vulnerability of horse riders and carriage riders in transport legislation.
McLean is the author of the work - researching, writing and presenting on the multitude of issues for the most part of 2024.
It was in leading this work that led to the understanding that people were being hurt and killed on our roads whilst riding, and no single authority or advocacy group had any idea of the extent of the issue.
Currently there is no definition in New Zealand Transport Agency literature to define a Vulnerable Road User (VRU). This means VRU treatment and application is left up to interpretation and this is evident in local and central government planning. Consequently, for horse riders, they are left out of road safety education and more often than not, excluded from new off road trail developments. Loss of existing horse rider access to shared spaces is also occurring at an alarming rate.
Why this Submission is so important…
What we know…
There is currently no definition in the New Zealand Transport Agency literature to define a Vulnerable Road User (VRU). Pedestrians and cyclists are treated as vulnerable road users by Waka Kotahi and local authorities, which deliver the Government’s transport spend and Active Mode work programme.
No authority collects data on incidents involving horse riders or charges brought.
According to NZTR there are 130,000 horses in New Zealand, and 30,000 of them are thoroughbreds. Recreational riders are critical to giving horses retiring from the racing industry a second career.
The 2013-14-sports-profile-equestrian-and-horse-riding.pdf document provides the most recent data on community participation in equestrian and horse riding activities. Of note, 86,000 adult riders.
Equestrian Sports New Zealand 2024 figures show there are 40,000 people registered with ESNZ affiliated Clubs.
New Zealand Pony Club has 7,500 members.
In New Zealand, horse riders are referred to as ‘other road user’ in the Land Transport (Road User) Rule 2004. The best example we can find to champion horse rider safety is 7.22(a)ii - a road user must exercise due care towards a person riding an animal on the road.
Funding for alternative shared pathways to get vulnerable road users off the road is managed by Waka Kotahi, and in many cases a co-funding arrangement is made with local authorities to build new infrastructure.
PWASNZ was established as a result of this submission work, by four passionate women who are determined to see improved change in legislation, enforcement and education.
We cannot wait for officials, as more lives will be lost if we do.
Submitting the VRU Petition to NZ Parliament
Read NZ Herald’s story here on the delivery of the VRU Petition.
Read the OIA response to Julia’s inquiry about data on serious injury, driver behaviour or death reports involving a horse or rider on the road.
What Next?
The Vulnerable Road User submission is tracking its way through Parliament and has landed exactly where it needs to be.
In November ‘24 the Parliamentary Petitions Committee wrote to Julia to say that it had considered the submission and that it was referring it on to the Transport and Infrastructure Committee. This is very good news because the issues being raised fit the work stream of this particular select committee.
We have been told that the committee will request ‘evidence’ from various organisations/groups it deems necessary to understand the issues being raised. The Committee will call a hearing to discuss the matter.
No date has been set for this but Julia has accepted an opportunity to speak on behalf of the submission she wrote, and will use this time to present further information to strengthen the case for Vulnerable Road User status.
Leading this work led to the creation of Pass Wide & Slow New Zealand. The severity and frequency of near misses, serious injury and death can no longer be ignored and we are filling the void of no road safety messaging and education, whilst we wait for legislation and policy direction to catch up.
We are determined to make positive change.
Thank you to the 35 equestrian organisations and groups supporting the VRU submission.
Keep up to date on the progress on our blog and social media pages.
