Who is doing what?

There are many initiatives to reduce animal accidents in the New Forest and some of these are listed below. No single organisation has overall responsibility so those involved liaise regularly to make sure activities are coordinated as far as possible.

National Park Authority

  • Credit card sized Animal Emergency Hotline card
  • Car window stickers saying ‘I slow down for ponies’
  • Articles in Park Life newsletter, distributed to 90,000 local homes
  • Pony game on Fun Zone of website
  • Press releases to local media
  • Contact with driving instructors and test centres to reach new drivers
  • Data analysis to identify trends and key issues

Verderers and Agisters

  • Temporary ‘animal accident here’ signs (supplied by the National Park Authority) left at the scene of accidents
  • Press articles generated by monthly report to Verderers Court
  • Reflective collars for ponies provided free to commoners – and encouragement at drifts to fit them
  • Hit and Run Reward Scheme (up to £1000 for information leading to a conviction)

Commoners

  • Owners of the animals fit reflective collars to ponies and donkeys which graze near to roads

Hampshire County Council

  • 40mph zone marked by signs at entrances and by painted 40 roundels on the road
  • Range of large warning signs – these are being replaced by simpler signs with changing messages, starting with the B3054
  • Village 30 scheme and village pinch points to reduce speeds in villages
  • Trial Open Forest pinch points on Burley Road, Brockenhurst
  • Fencing and cattle grids along A31, A35, A337 and around perambulation

Police

  • Speed enforcement operations – especially after deployment of SIDs
  • ‘Stay under 40 campaign’ targeted at speed hot spots – driver awareness training as well as points on the licence
  • Country Watch exhibition trailer with animal accident information
  • Questionnaires to drivers who have been involved in accidents

New Forest District Council

  • Electronic Speed Indicator Devices (SIDs) and Speed Limit Reminder signs (SLRs) – both reduce traffic speeds and provide data for Police enforcement teams
  • Related District Council web pages: SID data, Road Safety and Speed Data
  • Articles in New Forest Today magazine in partnership with New Forest National Park Authority

Forestry Commission

  • Open Forest roadside scrub cut back by 10-15m on 4-year rotation
  • Post and rail fencing at blind spots
  • Articles in Forest Focus newspaper

Commoners Defence Association

  • Encouragement to commoners to use the reflective collars

New Forest Trust

  • Encouragement to local businesses to highlight the issue to their employees
  • Poster competition in local schools

Local residents

  • Drive carefully, day and night
  • Tell their friends to drive carefully
  • Display window stickers in their car and carry emergency hotline cards
  • Write to local newspapers to generate publicity
  • Organise local campaigns and petitions to raise awareness
  • Provide funding for a Speed Indicator Devices - usually through Parish or Town Council

Local employers

  • Some, such as ExxonMobil, have been active in raising awareness amongst their staff or have funded new initiatives

Brockenhurst College

  • Annual event and ongoing publicity for learner and new drivers at the college

Various organisations

  • Regular point of discussion at events (including the New Forest Show), visitor centres, at schools and with anyone else who will listen

Looking after

ancient tranquil