Drivers have been urged to hold their horses outside a Fife riding school.
An MP has claimed children and horses are being put in danger by drivers speeding past Tapitlaw stables on the A907 near Comrie, where students and instructors regularly have to cross the road.
Dunfermline and West Fife MP, Douglas Chapman, said instructors from the school were regularly forced to put themselves in harm’s way to slow down or stop oncoming traffic.
He has called on Fife Council to reduce the 60mph speed limit and said local councillors had also expressed concerns.
Fife Council said their was no justification for cutting the limit but the SNP politician countered: “It doesn’t make any sense for this stretch of the road to be set at 60mph and I know all the local councillors across all parties have expressed their concerns to Fife Council.
“The campaign has won support from local community councils too.”
Mr Chapman said the 0.7-mile stretch of road, which connects Comrie with Blairhall, is sandwiched by 30mph and 40mph speed limits, causing drivers to hit the throttle as soon as the limit changes.
“Pupils at Tapitlaw should be able to cross the road on their horses without fear of being hit by a speeding car,” he said.
“Tapitlaw also works closely with disabled riders, which only compounds a dangerous situation as they might not respond as quickly when seeing a fast-moving, oncoming car or lorry.
“I have written to Fife Council to demand that the speed limit of this section of road be looked at and other simple solutions to make crossing the road more safe be investigated.”
Phil Clarke, Fife Council’s lead consultant for traffic management, said traffic signs warning of accompanied horses were in place on the approach to the riding school, in both directions.
“We appreciate the riding school’s concerns but overall, there isn’t a justification for a reduced speed limit or road crossing on the A907 at this location,” he said.
“The business is responsible for carrying out their own risk assessments in relation to how they make use of the surrounding outdoors with their customers.”
Mr Clarke added: “The A907 is an A class distributor road, so is subject to the national speed limit between communities.
“Drivers should drive to the road conditions and be aware that in rural areas, roads may be used by horses, slow moving agricultural vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, and so drivers should always take extra care.”