Slow Down, Move Over
As you drive along a rural road during the early evening hours you may come upon some blinking lights on the shoulder of the road up ahead. What could it be? Maybe a bicycle rider heading home after a day at work or school! Or it could be a tractor moving from one field to another trying to get the harvest completed before the winter snow! It could also be a horse drawn buggy transporting a Mennonite family home after grocery shopping.
What should your reaction be? How can this scenario result in a safe conclusion for everyone involved?
Lately we have seen quite a few fatal collisions between horse and buggies and motorized vehicles. Unfortunately, it is usually the children that suffer severe injuries or are killed by the impact since they would be the passengers sitting in the back of the buggy. What a tragedy for both the families of the victims and the driver of the vehicle. How could this have been avoided?
Proper lighting is essential for slow moving vehicles. Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) signs are required by law to be installed on the back of any vehicle traveling at less than 40 km/h. This is important to identify buggies, combines, tractors pulling implements and any farm vehicles. These SMV signs are not to be put at the end of the lane to identify the entrance to a home. This is confusing for everyone and is against the law!
Buggies are to be equipped with reflective tape around the perimeter of the buggy to outline the shape of the buggy. Battery powered red lights at the back, white at the front and blinkers help to alert car drivers of the buggy that is driving along the shoulder of the road.
Bicycle are to have lights as well. It is most helpful if riders as well as walkers wear reflective vests or armbands to make them more visible at night and during the twilight hours.
The darkest months of year are upon us now and much activity on the roadways happen after dark. As drivers of motorized vehicles, it is our responsibility to be wary of what is up ahead as we travel the country roads.
If you come upon a suspicious light flickering in the distance or a glint of headlights on some reflective material, slow down to determine what it may be. Then, if it is safe to do so, move over to give the buggy, cyclist or tractor more room. Horses are easily spooked and there may not be enough time to react to avoid a collision.
A horse drawn buggy or bicycle is no match for a car or truck. The outcome will not be in their favour. It is up to us to help reduce these tragic collisions on the rural roadways by slowing down and moving over!