posted Jun 28, 2023

How To Drive Safely Around Horse and Buggies

Enjoy our country roads while sharing the road responsibility.

When traversing the rural routes of Lancaster County, it's common to encounter fellow travelers such as cyclists, Amish folks on scooters, and, of course, horse-and-buggies. If you're wondering about the appropriate behavior while driving alongside these buggies, we're here to assist you.

Discover Lancaster, along with PennDOT and Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, advocates for safe road sharing and compiled some guidelines to ensure your safety while driving in Lancaster County.

Credit: Brian Evans

1. Take it slow. When approaching and passing buggies it is important to pass safely. Allow at least 20 feet between your vehicle and the horse before returning back to the travel lane.

2. Don't press that horn. Horses can be easily spooked, especially by loud noises like car horns.

3. Leave plenty of room. It can be difficult for the driver of the buggy to see you if you're following too closely. Stay aware and give plenty of space to ensure safety on the road.

4. Stay back. When driving behind a buggy, it's important to keep in mind that the buggy may roll back a few feet after coming to a stop.

4. Observe driving habits. Buggies will drive as close to the right side of the road as possible, but move toward the center when making a left-hand turn. Many buggies have turn signals, or the driver will use hand gestures to signal.

5. Be alert for horses at night. Buggies are illuminated at night, however, the horse may be dark and hard to see.

We hope these tips will help you to be more informed on your next visit to Lancaster! Thank you for being respectful of the Amish culture.

Source: PennDOT and Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health

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