Posted on 01/25/2012 5:43:58 PM PST by Morgana
FRANKFORT, Ky. -- The Senate Transportation Committee will consider a bill on Wednesday that would allow slow-moving vehicles without motors to use reflective tape for safety purposes rather than the slow-moving vehicle signs.
The bill by Sen. Ken Winters, a Murray Republican, and other senators, would also provide an alternative lighting system.
The committee will meet at 9:30 a.m.
On Tuesday, two state representatives, Johnny Bell, a Glasgow Democrat, and Ron Crimm, a Louisville Republican, spoke in favor of a similar measure in the House Transportation Committee.
Crimm also has a bill that would allow use of lanterns on the sides of buggies.
The proposals resulted from legal issues involving a group of Amish who object to using the orange, triangular signs on religious grounds.
I don't know if it is a law or not, but it is just common sense. I think there is a law covering bicycles that are on the roads at night, so buggies probably would come under the same thing.
I'm very glad that they do use them. I can't imagine driving after dark on those back roads and NOT being able to see a buggy ahead.
Last government existing, please blow out the oil lamps.
/johnny
That said, I'm not for more government/laws but one role the government has always enjoyed is public safety and while they can't make stupid/stubborn people protect themselves and their families, they can protect other innocent motorists from being involved in an accident that could have been prevented.
Too bad they can't educate the deer :)
Oh, that's already a law.
I'm sick and tired of government trying to 'protect' us.
As far as I'm concerned, it's a tort situtation. Idiot drunk driving a buggy with no lights, and I'm going the night-time speed limit, I'm gonna own a rustic farm property. And I can do that today, without another law.
How many rustic farmsteads do you think are going to get lost before they figure it out?
More laws just makes the government stronger.
/johnny
I think if enough Amish died from cars colliding with their buggies they would eventually make it a religious edict to require sufficient lighting be placed on their vehicles.
Look at what happens when you hit a bear at 25 to 30mph.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwyLbRpOhCA
The very conservative Schwartzentruber sect refuses to use the orange triangles. Nor do some of them bother with lanterns.
Ohio allows the reflective tape for this group. I have encountered a few of them out after dark, but it is very rare.
On the other hand it is possible to purchase a buggy with battery operated head and tail lights, working turn signals and a strobe light or two, for added visibilty. It all depends on the church district.
Driving anywhere in Amish country requires prudence at any time of the day.
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