The New Forest Roads Awareness Group have just published the following information which comes directly from the Verderers:

"The accident figures for 2022 have been released by the Verderers of the New Forest.
Agisters attended 82 incidents (2021 - 103; 2020 - 105; 2019 - 159)
41 animals lost their lives. 34 ponies, 3 pigs, 2 cows and 2 donkeys.
26 accidents happened in daylight, 13 at twilight and 43 in the dark
12 drivers failed to report an incident.

While we are pleased with the continued reduction in accidents, we are concerned about the amount of accidents happening during the day and at twilight.

Forestry England are still working on cutting back the verge sides to make the roads safer for drivers and the livestock. The Commoners Defence Association have put out salt licks along the B3078 to try and reduce the amount of animals 'salt licking' The New Forest Trust have funded more animal accident cards."

This compares to: 50 animals killed in 2020 of which 29 were ponies, 1 pig, 8 cattle, 5 sheep, 7 donkeys, and in 2021 - 24 ponies, 8 cattle, 1 sheep and 11 donkeys. 

During 2022 there were regular speed checks carried out on the Forest by joint agencies and it can only be hoped that these will continue as there are currently the only deterrent that we have. 

Meanwhile I can give you NO information about the feasibility study into speed cameras on Roger Penny Way as no-one is prepared to give me any details about what is (or isn't) happening, who is involved in what I had been hoped would be an objective study about the feasibility of the cameras. I have now sent a freedom of information request to New Forest District Council asking them to supply me with the details of which agencies are involved and what stage they have reached. It is a year since 'they' began. As a person whose pony was killed, and a person who was invited by the Council to speak about why I thought the cameras were necessary, I find this extremely rude. I have as much right as an individual to some basic information as any agency on that group. 

The grief never stops.