The BHS has launched it’s new virtual reality film at Parliament this week (13 June 2018). The BHS states that the film’s purpose is to “raise awareness of the issues horse riders face on Britain’s roads”. The video supports the Dead Slow Campaign, which the BHS debuted in 2016.
The campaign works with driving organisations across the UK to bring about education to drivers about passing horses and therefore hopes to influence safer road-riding conditions.
The initiation of the Dead Slow Campaign was influenced by the BHS’s Horse Accidents website. The website founded figures that showed that there had been 39 rider injuries and 230 horses that had died or been euthanised due to injury, since the website’s launch – 85% of the incidents were vehicle-related.
The virtual reality film shows drivers what it is like to be riding a horse when a car passes too fast or too close. The film also demonstrates the driver’s point of view.
The film, supported by Petplan Charitable Trust and First Car, has been said to “involve drivers in a unique way”. The Director of Safety at the BHS also states that the new film is a message that car drivers “will remember”.
