Of Buggies and Blinkers: An Essay on the 2022 Ohio Buggy Lighting Law

Authors

  • Joseph F. Donnermeyer School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University
  • Erik Wesner Founder and Editor, Amish America
  • Dee Jepsen College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, The Ohio State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18061/jpac.v4i1.9605

Keywords:

buggy safety, SMV, Swartzentruber Amish, reflector tape

Abstract

Buggy safety long has been an issue in the state of Ohio and elsewhere. As their population grows, and rural roads become increasingly crowded with cars and trucks, safety will continue to be a concern to the Amish, public officials and the general public. In 2022, the governor of Ohio signed a mandatory lighting law for Amish buggies. Even though a large share of the Amish either already had a blinking light on the back of their buggies or conformed to the new law, some conservative groups, especially conservative Swartzentruber Amish groups, have resisted. This article discusses the history of attempts to increase buggy visibility and road safety and the developments behind the current controversy. It includes a brief statistical summary on the number of buggies in the Greater Holmes County settlement who either display a blinking amber light or do not, plus briefs visits to other Amish and buggy-driving Mennonite groups in Ohio. Also included are selected comments about the new Ohio law from readers on the Amish America website. The article concludes with a brief discussion of the possible outcomes from an issue that will likely extend into 2024 and beyond before a solution is found for all Amish affiliations.

Author Biographies

Joseph F. Donnermeyer, School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University

Dr. Joseph F. Donnermeyer is a professor emeritus in the School of Environment and Natural Resources at The Ohio State University and an adjunct professor at both the Center on Research on Violence at West Virginia University and the School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at the University of New England. Dr. Donnermeyer

Erik Wesner, Founder and Editor, Amish America

Erik Wesner is the creator and owner of the web site Amish America. Amish America frequently posts stories about current events associated with the Amish and other plain Anabaptist groups. Amish America has followed the new Ohio mandatory buggy lighting issue, posting many stories about the legislation itself and reactions to it by both the Amish and non-Amish. Erik Wesner is the author of Success Made Simple: An Inside Look at Why Amish Businesses Thrive (2010, Josesey-Bass).

Dee Jepsen, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, The Ohio State University

Dr. Dee Jepsen has been with the OSU Agricultural Safety and Health Program since 1992. She has responsibility for teaching, extension and research in occupational safety and health. Her outreach efforts evolve around current issues in farm and rural safety, providing community training programs for high school classrooms, farm families and workers, agricultural industry groups, and the public seeking to understand safety and health issues farmers face. Current projects are roadway safety for tractors, machinery and Amish buggies; tractor safety education programs for youth and Women in Agriculture; establishing a ROPS rebate program for Ohio; and many more.

Cover image for The Journal of Plain Anabaptist Communities, Volume 4, Issue 1

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Published

2023-12-07

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2023)

Section

Fieldwork and Reflections

License

Copyright (c) 2023 Joseph F. Donnermeyer, Erik Wesner, Dee Jepsen

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