(photo via Bruce County Twitter)
Provincial Police are urging drivers in southern Bruce County to be wary of horse-drawn buggies on southern Bruce County roads, after two serious collisions last year.
OPP say southern Bruce County is home to vibrant and growing “old order” communities, which use horse-drawn buggies as a primary means of travel.
“In southern Bruce County, you will encounter both open and closed buggies along the shoulder of area roadways. The larger buggies can carry as many as eight passengers,” a release from OPP explains. “They have every right to use the travelled portion of the road, but prefer to ride along the shoulder.”
Police say horse-drawn buggies are among the slowest moving vehicles on the road, travelling at about 14 kilometres an hour. They are also one the lightest, leaving the occupants at greater risk of injury if a collision occurs.
This past fall, two serious collisions occurred involving horse-drawn buggies in southern Bruce County. Two children in a buggy lost their lives in an accident on Oct. 11, 2020 along Bruce Road 10. While on Sept. 16, a collision along Bruce Road 28 left four children in a buggy with injuries. Charges were laid against drivers in both incidents.
“These collisions were very traumatic for the families, the communities, the involved driver and they took a toll on the first responders,” South Bruce OPP say.
Section 167 in the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario sets out the duty on a motor vehicle driver to avoid frightening a horse along a roadway.
Police say drivers need to bear this in mind when they are approaching a horse drawn buggy.
“If you encounter a horse drawn buggy, maintain a safe following distance and leave plenty of room when you pass,” Provincial Police say. “Passing too closely may startle the horse, causing it to suddenly change direction.”
Police note most buggy operators in southern Bruce County use electric light on the front and rear and choose to ride along the shoulder to protect themselves, but may travel on a portion of the roadway when the shoulder becomes too narrow.
“As a motor vehicle driver, watch out for horse drawn buggies, particularly during dawn or dusk when they may be harder to see,” South Bruce OPP remind.