Horse-worrying drivers given roadside VR lessons

Operation Snaffle involved drivers being taught about the dangers of driving near horse riders using VR

Drivers whose actions could have spooked horses were given a roadside lesson using virtual reality.

Operation Snaffle saw rural police officers, the fire service's road safety unit and equestrian volunteers deployed to Main Street in Great Dalby, near Melton Mowbray, to catch drivers not giving enough space when passing horse riders.

A total of 11 motorists were found to be driving "below standard" on Thursday morning.

The drivers found to have made a "close pass" were stopped and, alongside their passengers, hooked up to a VR headset to experience being in the saddle with inconsiderate drivers on the roads.

A spokesperson for Leicestershire Police's rural policing team said: "The aim of these ops are to educate, not prosecute, so everyone stopped and passengers were given the opportunity to speak with police and then take a seat in the fire service's Hazard Express, where they viewed a virtual reality video that puts them in the saddle to experience what riders go through when vehicles spook horses."

They added most drivers thought they had passed the horse safely.

The team advises when around horses, motorists must slow to 10mph (16kmph), be patient, pass wide when safe to do so, and drive off slowly.