For the more than 8 million tourists who visit Lancaster County each year, a drive through the scenic countryside often involves the need to pass a horse-drawn Amish buggy.
Unfortunately, for many visitors, being unfamiliar with Lancaster’s rural roads or carelessness while approaching and passing a slow-moving buggy increase the odds of a serious accident.
More than 630 accidents involving vehicles and horse-drawn buggies occurred in Pennsylvania during the past decade, according to state data. Most of those accidents occurred in Lancaster County, home to nearly 37,000 Amish residents.
Since 2015, Lancaster General Hospital’s trauma center has treated nearly 90 buggy accident victims, with many others seen for less-serious injuries in the hospital’s emergency department.
One recent accident typified the issue: A family of six—including an infant—required emergency care at Lancaster General in July after their buggy was rear-ended by a pickup truck in rural eastern Lancaster County. The truck driver—suddenly blinded by the setting sun—plowed through the lightweight fiberglass coach.
To reduce such devastating incidents, Lancaster General Health and local partners now provide basic tips for tourists when approaching buggies and large farm equipment on Lancaster County roads.
“Often, drivers don’t know what to do when they encounter a buggy,” says Lancaster General’s Michael Reihart. “I’ve lived here most of my life, and no one taught me how to safely drive around buggies.”
Read more at the Penn Medicine News Blog.
