Mike’s Musings: How to decrease buggy accidents in our communities

It happens over and over, an Amish buggy is hit by a car or truck and severe injuries happen to thos in the buggy. Just last week the scene was Clare County, which by the way has had a half dozen such accidents in the last few years. It’s a tragedy when it happens and as communities in Michigan we have to do more to prevent such accidents.

Here’s my take on why Michigan is seeing so many accidents involving Amish buggies—and what we can do to reduce them:

What’s Driving the Increase in Buggy Collisions?

1. Inherent Road Vulnerabilities

• Slow speed + limited visibility: Amish buggies typically travel at only about 5–8 mph—far slower than motor vehicles—which creates dangerous mismatches when drivers misjudge their speed or distance, especially on rural roads with curves and hills.
• Poor nighttime visibility: While safety triangles are required by Michigan law, many buggies lack effective lighting—making them hard to see in low-light areas.
• Minimal protection: Buggies offer no crash protection—no seat belts, airbags, or crash-resistant structure—making collisions especially devastating.

1. Driver Awareness & Behavior

• Driver distraction or impairment: Many of these crashes result from inattentive or impaired driving. In one crash that claimed an 8-year-old’s life, the driver was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence.
• Unfamiliarity with buggy laws: Non-Amish drivers often don’t realize that horse-drawn buggies are legally categorized as “pedestrians” on Michigan roads, which affects how traffic laws should be approached.

What We Can Do to Prevent These Tragic Crashes
A. Improve Visibility & Buggy Standards

• Boost lighting requirements: Equip buggies with bright front and rear lights, reflectors, blinking lights, and reflective tape. Promote use of high-visibility material where possible.
• Ensure bumper reflectors & triangles: Encourage adherence to existing safety-triangle laws and enhance awareness.
  B. Enhance Roadway Infrastructure & Signage
• Add dedicated buggy lanes or wide shoulders: Roads through Amish areas could be redesigned to include safe zones for buggies to travel. This is a great idea, but probably impractical do to costs.
• Install warning signs and reduced-speed zones: Especially near Amish schools and intersections used frequently by buggies. This can and should be done at very little expense. We simply do not have enough buggy warning signs.
  C. Promote Education & Community Outreach
• Driver awareness campaigns: Billboards, gas-pump screens, radio spots, and even social media can remind motorists to watch for buggies and slow down. Again we need more awareness and especially billboards would help provide that.
  D. Expand Funding & Pilot Programs
• Statewide grants and local initiatives: The $70,000 grant to Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph counties is a solid start—targeting a 15 % crash reduction through outreach, enforcement, and infrastructure improvements. It would be nice for the state to provide the same type of grant to other heavily populated Amish areas, such as Clare County.
  The recurring tragedy of buggy-car collisions in Michigan’s Amish-populated regions is a complex intersection of culture, infrastructure, regulation, and road habits. It is clear, though, that better visibility, stronger community education, thoughtful road design, and legislative support can dramatically lower risks.
  By honoring Amish traditions while prioritizing safety, we can protect some of Michigan’s most vulnerable road users and avoid heartbreaking losses.
  I’m very upset that practically every week I read about another buggy accident. We can do better Michiganders.