© 2024 Esitu Solutions Ltd. All rights reserved. Reg: 12783669. Dryden Enterprise Centre, Dryden Street, Nottingham, NG1 4FQ.
Promoting Safe Overtaking of Horses and Cyclists with Mindfulness Techniques
Esitu Solutions are proud to have supported Nottingham Trent University and The British Horse Society in their latest grant funded by the Road Safety Trust.
Vehicles like cars, vans, and lorries offer significant protection to drivers through metal shells and built-in safety features like airbags and crumple zones. However, vulnerable road users (VRUs) such as motorcyclists, cyclists, horse riders, e-scooter users, mobility scooter users, and pedestrians lack this protection and face a higher risk of death or serious injury in collisions. In 2022, vulnerable road users accounted for 48% of fatalities in the UK, with notable incidents involving cyclists and horse riders. The British Horse Society reported 68 horse deaths and 139 rider injuries in the same year, reflecting a 21% increase in incidents compared to the previous year (Hiscox & Baker, 2023). One of the main challenges for cyclists and horse riders is inappropriate overtaking, where another vehicle approaches too quickly or closely, and then passes without adequate clearance or at excessive speed.
In a recent project, Nottingham Trent University collaborated with The British Horse Society on a project funded by the Road Safety Trust. The project aimed to develop a mindfulness road safety video intervention to de-escalate road rage when passing VRUs, specifically horse riders and cyclists.
The research began by conducting a large survey of 1000 car drivers to better understand their emotion, attitudes and behaviours towards horse riders and cyclists. This found that spotting horses in the road ahead was most likely to lead to feelings of surprise and happiness in drivers, whereas the strongest emotions evoked by cyclists were reported to be frustration and anxiety.
To address these emotional responses during overtaking, the team explored the potential of mindfulness techniques. Mindfulness involves focusing on the present moment, enhancing awareness of one’s feelings, thoughts, and physical sensations. Research indicates that mindfulness can positively impact driving behaviours, such as reducing speeding and harsh accelerations.
Working NTU, Esitu then filmed, edited, and finalised a series of four road safety videos.
To evaluate the effectiveness of the videos, the team recruited 300 drivers, pairing them based on frustration levels and exposure to cyclists and horse riders. Each pair was divided into two groups: one watched a mindfulness video weekly for four weeks, while the other viewed control videos (e.g., on the risks of hands-free phone use). Participants completed surveys before and after the study to assess changes in emotions, attitudes, and behaviours towards VRUs.
The evaluation of the videos showed significant improvements in anticipated emotions, such as reduced frustration, attitudes, intended future passing speeds, and overall unsafe passing behaviours towards cyclists, and some improvement towards horses as well (although attitudes were already quite positive towards these four-legged VRUs). The results also showed that in terms of future intended passing behaviours, the intervention group showed a significant decrease in their intended speed when passing both cyclists and horse riders.
Qualitative data supported the belief among drivers that these videos would bring substantial benefits. In a series of self-reflection questions, the majority of intervention drivers reported enhanced knowledge of safe overtaking practices for cyclists and horse riders, increased confidence in managing future overtaking situations, and a commitment to applying mindfulness techniques in encounters with VRUs on the road. Almost all intervention drivers agreed that the videos would positively influence the behaviour of other drivers, too.
Overall, the results indicate a positive impact of the videos on drivers’ attitudes and emotions towards cyclists and, to a lesser extent, horse riders. The team acknowledges that the disparity in effects between cyclists and horses may reflect drivers’ generally more positive emotions and behaviours towards horses.
The project team recognises that while these videos hold promise for enhancing road safety, current data only reflect drivers’ intentions to adopt safer practices. They consider this a promising starting point and plan to follow up with participants at a later date to assess whether these intentions translate into actual behaviours.
These videos are now freely available for use: BHS mindfulness intervention – YouTube
The final report for the project can also be found here: https://www.roadsafetytrust.org.uk/small-grants-awarded/horse-society-road-rage
Latest Blogs
What to know more about our range of online assessments? Book a call to discuss how we can save your business money.