MOTORISTS are being warned to slow down over Dartmoor after another pony was killed by a vehicle on the Princetown to Tavistock road last week. A 40mph speed limit was introduced several years ago but is failing to stop a large number of ponies, foals and sheep being killed on Dartmoor?s roads each year. The latest accident happened on January 31 and according to chairman of the South West Equine Protection Society Maureen Rolls the pony would have been in foal. She said: ?I think she might have been sheltering from the wind behind the nearby pumphouse and then was crossing the road in the morning when she was hit. ?It must have been a big impact because the injuries were severe.? Mrs Rolls said during the cold spell animals were drawn to the roads because of the salt and grit used to keep them ice-free. ?When the grass and moorland is frozen the ponies and sheep eat the salt which gives them a vital mineral at this time of year.? It was the third incident in the same amount of weeks and Mrs Rolls said her view was that it was not the tourists but commuters who were ignoring the signs. ?I find that when I am driving over the moor and keeping to the speed limit people are driving right up behind me and will take a chance and overtake. They do not anticipate animals moving out onto the road.? Mrs Rolls said unfortunately this pony was left at the roadside for four days while they searched for the owner: ?If the accident has not been reported and the animal has no identification then farmers are reluctant to come forward because they have to foot the bill. ?Whoever is responsible for an accident like this is responsible for the cost and that may include vet?s bills if it is injured ? if they have to start paying maybe these motorists will slow down a bit. ?The moor is full of animals ? all it takes is a bit of forethought and easing off of the speed and we could avoid unnecessary deaths like this.?
