Bus scare sparks Littlehampton teenager’s safety campaign

Kerry Winter, 15, was riding her horse with her sister, Michelle Molloy, 26, in North Lane, East Preston, when, she claims, a bus driver passed within inches of them.

She said that the driver of the Stagecoach 700 bus service to Brighton didn’t slow down and that the situation was exacerbated by another bus, approaching from the opposite direction, frightening both horses.

“The horses just flipped out, they were so scared.

“The first bus, in front of us slowed down and let us pass. Then a couple of seconds later another one came from behind, not really slowing that much and passed within inches of us.

“I was riding a pretty nervous horse because I’m the only person who can really handle it,” said Kerry.

“When the second bus went by, he became scared and started bucking and spinning around. Then the horse my sister was on started to get scared and almost sent her into a branch of a tree.”

The Littlehampton Academy student has now started a campaign urging motorists to slow down and be more considerate, when passing horses.

Kerry, who has been riding for more than three years, added this had never happened to her before. She said: “Irresponsible drivers can be so dangerous.

“I don’t think people realise how easily horses can be frightened.

“They don’t understand how dangerous that can be for both the person riding the horse and the animal itself.”

A spokeswoman for Stagecoach said: “We are investigating the alleged incident.

“All our drivers are expected to adhere to the Highway Code and exercise consideration whilst driving, which includes passing horses at a sensible speed.”

She added that Kerry had contacted the company and that it would be responding to her, directly, following the conclusion of its investigation.