How you can help
Animals have right of way over vehicles and it is the driver’s responsibility to slow down and give way to them. Most accidents happen when it is dark and many involve local drivers as well as visitors.
Remember the risk is not just to the animals but to you as a driver, your passengers and your vehicle. Drive safely in the National Park … for everyone’s sake.
Please observe the speed limits: the animals can be difficult to see, especially at night. Even fully-grown ponies only have the road-sense of a two-year old child and regularly walk out in front of vehicles – and foals often walk across the road to their mothers.
Most collisions happen in the dark, so please be careful if you have to travel early or late in the day. Many wear reflective collars to make them more visible at night but watch out for those that don’t.
Remember that the animals do not understand that cars are dangerous. EXPECT THEM TO WALK IN FRONT OF YOU, give them a wide birth and be ready to stop!
Remember that deer easily jump the fences alongside roads like the A337, A31 and A35. Some collisions on these faster routes have been fatal to people, so be alert wherever you drive in the New Forest.
Lastly, carry an Animal Emergency Hotline Card with you in the car and display an 'I go slow for ponies' sticker for all to see.
