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Resident urges county to tackle horse‑and‑buggy safety after local crashes; board plans community outreach
Summary
A public commenter described repeated horse‑and‑buggy accidents and asked the board to consider measures including additional signage and lighting; supervisors said they will invite Amish/Mennonite community representatives and consult counties with longer experience to find enforceable, practical steps.
During public comment, Cliff Mullen urged the board to address a string of buggy‑related crashes in the county and asked for practical safety steps, including improved lighting and more prominent warning signage on stretches of road frequented by horse‑drawn vehicles. He described a recent crash that injured members of the same family and asked the board to "think about" measures that might prevent a fatality.
Supervisors discussed options, including meeting with local Amish and Mennonite community representatives, surveying what measures have been effective in Pennsylvania and other counties, and contacting VDOT for possible engineering or signage improvements. Several supervisors emphasized that drivers’ inattentiveness and speeding were part of the safety problem and said any solution should include outreach to buggy drivers as well as motorists. Ideas raised included targeted signage, selective road-widening where feasible, exploration of state-level best practices, and a community meeting to gather recommendations from buggy operators.
No formal directive or ordinance was adopted at the meeting; staff said they would pursue meetings with community representatives and VDOT to inform future action.
