How should I drive near a buggy?
There is a large Amish population in my area, so it's common to pass horses and buggies on the highway or drive next to them in town. I'm always worried I'll spook the horses. Should I change my driving habits around the buggies, or just give them plenty of space?
Answers ( 2 )
If you can't bring yourself to just approach one of the Amish people and ask them, I recommend using a combination of common sense, patience and consideration. The best course of [in]action will probably be obvious.
I have driven a horse and carriage on public roads and I'm so pleased you are seeking an answer to this question.
My recommendation is to slow down from your normal driving speed while maintaining a steady pace that allows you to pass the buggy in a timely fashion and give as much space as your current road situation allows.
Sometimes people slow down to the point that they are barely moving faster than the buggy (and take a very long time to pass), this makes the horses nervous and can be a distraction for both the carriage/buggy driver and the horse. Once you are past the buggy far enough that you can see the full front of the horse and buggy in your rearview mirror, then speed up to your regular speed. When on gravel roads, if people speed up too quickly once past the buggy, they throw rocks and large amounts of dust back in the face of the horse and buggy driver. Please keep in mind that just as when passing another car, it is unsafe to pass on corners or over blind hills - in this case, slow your speed to follow behind the buggy at a distance of at least one car length and then pass when in a clear passing zone.