Motorists Ask To Share The Road With Horse-Drawn Wagons

A tragic accident involving a suspected drunk driver and a horse drawn carriage in Michigan a few days ago is serving as a reminder to all motorists to be aware of carriages and horse drawn buggies on the road.

Several children were fatally injured in the crash and other family members were severely injured.

Troopers from the Michigan State Police Gladstone Post issued a notice to drivers that several new families of Amish have moved to the Cornell Area in Delta County and will be commuting into Escanaba and Gladstone on a frequent basis.

Horse drawn wagons are also common sights in the Keweenaw especially around many festivals and other events throughout the year.

Ridden, herded, or driven animals are considered “traffic” under Michigan law, and according to the vehicle code, they are treated like vehicles.

Michigan Vehicle Code 257.604 states a person riding an animal or driving an animal drawn vehicle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle. Laws include obvious things that do not apply to horses, such as rules about headlamps, windshield wipers, seatbelts, etc. Riders are, required to indicate turns (using hand signals), obey speed limits and stop at stop signs.

In Michigan, horse drawn carriages or buggies are considered “implements of husbandry”. This means the carriage is required to bear the widely recognizable orange safety triangles on the rear to indicate they are Slow Moving Vehicles. Buggies will also have reflective tape which will help in visibility. Drivers will indicate turning left or right by using hand signals.