An Amish buggy was totaled after a car crashed into its rear end Nov. 9 on County Rd N outside of Whitewater. The two occupants of a buggy, an adult and a minor, sustained minor injuries. However, the family’s horse sustained significant injuries and had to be euthanized.
A GoFundMe for the Amish family involved in the crash says both of the buggy’s occupants were ejected upon impact and that the buggy, which cost $15,000, was brand new. The fundraiser, organized by Ashley Laird, also notes that the Amish family in the crash is new to the Whitewater area. The driver that hit the buggy is uninsured, though no charges will be filed according to the Rock County Sheriff’s Office.
As the Amish community grows across the state, there is a higher chance of seeing a horse and buggy while on the road. Due to that, there is a higher chance of accidents involving the Amish. Drivers may not know what to do when it comes to driving near buggies, and they may not expect to see them. Additionally, Amish buggies tend to travel at less than 10 miles per hour, so it is easy for motor vehicles to approach one rapidly.
Trevor Fannon, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s (DOT) communication manager for the Southeast region of the state, offers some tips for driving safely around Amish buggies, including slowing down and staying aware on curves, hills and low-visibility areas, approaching gradually, giving plenty of space when passing and practicing patience and respect on the road.
“With Wisconsin having the fourth-largest Amish population among states, horse-drawn buggies are a regular part of travel in many rural areas, and awareness on how to share the road with them is essential for everyone’s safety,” Fannon said. “Drivers who stay alert, give themselves extra time and approach buggies with caution can significantly reduce the risk of crashes and help keep everyone safe.”
Amish buggies also share the same rights as motorists on the roads. A pamphlet from the Wisconsin DOT outlining animal-drawn vehicle safety on highways notes that all animal-drawn vehicles operate under the same rules and responsibilities that motorists do, including rules regarding turning, passing, stopping and yielding.
These rules require buggies to use electric lights during dark hours or inclement weather to reduce a potential accident. Under these guidelines, animal-drawn vehicles must be equipped with at least one lighted white light visible from 500 feet ahead, two lighted red lights to the rear visible from a distance of 500 feet and two yellow or amber strobe lights mounted to the rear. These vehicles are also required to possess a Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) emblem. SMV emblems are triangular orange markers often seen on vehicles such as farming equipment to indicate a travel speed of less than 25 miles per hour.
The DOT also reminds motorists that animal-drawn vehicles have the right to operate in the lane of traffic or on the shoulder of a road. With these rights in place, motorists are encouraged to make every effort to keep the roads safe for not only themselves but also the Amish community.
The GoFundMe for the family involved in the Nov. 9 crash has currently raised over $1,500 dollars. There is also a benefit dinner taking place Dec. 13 from 2-6 p.m. which will include a bake sale and auction.
