Every year, cars and buggies collide on America’s highways, and quite often their occupants are seriously injured or killed. Yet, a stubborn group of Amish are refusing to comply with new laws designed to improve public safety, even though their own children are being killed as a result. Ardent traditionalists say they won't attach electric lights to their buggies because it conflicts with their religious beliefs, sparking the ire of local residents. One sect in Ohio has even said they would rather be thrown in jail than to compromise their principles. The stand-off has divided opinion, with some defending the Amish and pointing the finger instead at careless motorists, while others say the Amish could solve the problem by simple complying with the law. A study conducted by the Ohio Department of Transportation revealed that there were 723 buggy-related crashes in the state between 2009 and 2019, with 350 leading to injuries and 17 resulting in fatalities. In an attempt to address the issue, the state passed a law in 2022 to require Amish buggies and other animal-drawn vehicles to display a yellow flashing light while driving on public streets. The elders and bishops, however, are resentful of the law, arguing that using electric lights was “not what our forefathers did.” The Amish community is slapped with fines of up to $150 for each violation of the law, but one by one, they have refused to pay, citing religious reasons. The matter finally went all the way to the Ohio Supreme Court, which ruled that the buggy law was justified in the name of public safety. Liens were placed on Amish properties that will accrue interest until they pay off the fines. The Amish have shown little willingness to cough up the money. At this point in time the issue is at a stalemate, with the ball sitting squarely in the state’s court.
