Our Bench is Proud to Support New Forest Drive Safe
Our Bench is Proud to Support New Forest Drive Safe to our guests, friends and business connections
At Our Bench, we believe that caring for people also means caring for the place they have come to enjoy.
At Our Bench, we believe that caring for people also means caring for the place they have come to enjoy. That is why we are proud to be a member of New Forest Drive Safe, an initiative led by the New Forest Commoners' Defence Association, with support from Forestry England and the New Forest National Park Authority.
Why it matters
The New Forest is unlike anywhere else in the UK.;
Thousands of ponies, cattle, donkeys, pigs and deer roam freely across the open Forest, and they have the legal right to cross, stand on and walk along many of the roads.
Every year, too many of these animals are injured or killed in road traffic collisions. Many accidents are preventable simply by driving more slowly, staying alert and expecting animals to appear at any time.
Whether you are visiting for the first time or travel through the Forest every day, a little extra care helps protect both the animals and everyone travelling on our roads.
Our commitment
As a member of New Forest Drive Safe, Our Bench is committed to:
- Promoting safer driving on New Forest roads.
- Sharing advice with our guests before and during their stay.
- Encouraging drivers to allow extra time for journeys through the Forest.
- Helping visitors understand what to do if they witness or are involved in an accident with an animal.
- Supporting efforts to reduce collisions involving the New Forest's free-roaming livestock and wildlife.
Advice for driving in the New Forest
When travelling through the New Forest, please remember:
- Drive at a speed that allows you to stop safely if an animal steps into the road.
- Treat the 40 mph speed limit as the maximum—not the speed you should always travel.
- Slow down even further at night, around bends, over hills and in poor weather.
- If you see one animal, expect others nearby.
- Animals grazing beside the road can move without warning.
- Deer often travel in groups, so if one crosses, others are likely to follow.
- Allow extra time for every journey and never rush through the Forest.
The changing seasons also bring additional hazards, from playful foals in spring and summer to pigs feeding on acorns in autumn and reduced visibility during winter.
If an accident happens
If you collide with, or find, an injured animal:
- Stop as soon as it is safe to do so.
- Never move an injured animal unless there is an immediate danger.
- Report the incident straight away using the appropriate emergency contact numbers.
- Stay nearby if it is safe until help arrives.
- Reporting an incident quickly gives injured animals the best chance of receiving prompt attention and helps keep other road users safe.
Help protect the New Forest
Driving just a little more slowly could save the life of a pony, donkey, cow, pig or deer — and could prevent serious damage to your vehicle.
We are proud to support New Forest Drive Safe and encourage all our guests, neighbours and local businesses to do the same.
Together, we can help keep the New Forest a safe place for everyone who lives, works and visits here.
Further Information