Somebody has to say it

By Jim Thompson
HCP columnist

I read the following on Facebook, not usually a credible source of news. However, marking the fifth anniversary of the death of Scott Richardson of the Sugartree Ridge Mennonite community whose buggy was hit by a car, I thought this was appropriate:

“From 1985 to today, the Amish community and the number of horse-and-buggy accidents on America’s rural roads has changed dramatically. In the mid-1980s, the Amish population in North America was estimated at just over 125,000 people. Today, researchers estimate the Amish population has surpassed 400,000 people across more than 30 states and several countries. That represents more than a 200-percent increase in roughly four decades. Amish families traditionally have large households and strong church retention, which means the population has historically doubled every 20–23 years.

“With that growth has come a major increase in horse-drawn buggy travel. Accurate nationwide crash totals dating back to 1985 are difficult to track because each state records buggy accidents differently. However, state transportation data clearly shows the trend. In states like Ohio, home to one of the largest Amish populations, annual buggy crashes rose from roughly 80–100 incidents per year in the early 1990s to well over 150 or more in recent years. Similar patterns have been reported where expanding settlements and increased traffic have led to more vehicle interactions on rural highways.

“The increase isn’t simply because of buggy travel itself. Rural areas have grown busier, speed limits have increased on many roads, and modern vehicles approach slow-moving buggies much faster than drivers often realize. Many crashes continue to be rear-end collisions occurring at dawn, dusk or nighttime when visibility is lowest. Because of this, major safety changes have been introduced since the late 1980s through cooperation between Amish church leaders and state transportation officials."

Today many buggies include:

• Slow-Moving Vehicle (SMV) reflective triangles or approved alternatives;

• Reflective tape outlining buggy sides and rears;

• Battery-powered LED lights or flashers in many communities; and

• Improved lantern visibility systems.

“States have also added buggy warning signs, widened shoulders near settlements, and included buggy awareness education in driver training programs. Despite these improvements, safety experts say awareness remains the biggest factor. A horse-drawn buggy typically travels only 5-10 mph, while cars on the same road may be traveling 55 mph or faster. That closing speed leaves very little reaction time for distracted drivers. As Amish communities continue expanding into new regions including southern and western states roadway safety will likely remain an important conversation for both Amish families and motorists sharing rural roads.

No one asked me to say this, but if we can afford to build bicycle pathways everywhere, we can afford to make the roads safer for buggies. And for those of you who spread false rumors about our Amish and Mennonite friends, let me stop that right here. They pay nearly all the taxes you pay but they, by design, expect little back from the government (there is a Social Security and Medicare exemption available upon successfully filing IRS form 4029). This is available to them because they do not collect Social Security and Medicare benefits. They tread very lightly on the earth and look for no handouts from the government.

Jim Thompson, formerly of Marshall, is a graduate of Hillsboro High School and the University of Cincinnati. He resides in Duluth, Ga. and is a columnist for The Highland County Press.