It is not uncommon to find horse-drawn vehicles including buggies on road. When you are sharing the road with such vehicles and wish to avoid an accident with them, you should be able to estimate the time they need for slowing down or making a pass, among other traffic and on-road movements. Most of the accidents with horse-drawn vehicles occur as the motorist cannot well estimate the time they need for the passes or the overtakes. Buggies and other horse-drawn vehicles do not move in the same way as the cars do. They take their own time for slowing down or changing direction.

The Speed of the Horse Drawn Vehicles

The horse-drawn vehicles including the buggies usually have a speed not going about 10 miles per hour. If the buggies are pulling some heavy load or crossing the intersections, their speed will be even lower. Only a few buggies and horse-drawn vehicles can move faster than 20 mph. When you are sharing the road with a horse-drawn vehicle, the information will help you better judge the movement and the slowing time of the buggies.

Safety Tips for Sharing the Road with Horse Drawn Vehicles

As stated, horse-drawn vehicles do not move in the same way and with the same speed as cars and other automobiles. The movement and other characteristics of the buggies (for instance the center of gravity) are different as well. Below are three important safety tips that you can use when you find a horse-drawn vehicle on the road and want to drive safely around and through it.

Overcoming unpredictability issues

A car is an automated machine. The cars are therefore less likely to undergo a malfunction or error. However, horses are not machines. The horses are animals, which is not mechanistic. For instance, a horse may slow down when it is tired. In such an instance, the horse-drawn vehicle will also come to a halt or will slow down its speed. The behavior of horses may also be unpredictable sometimes. For instance, some horses may spook at a loud horn/voice or even at vehicles moving at a fast pace.

Overcoming visibility issues

A driver who rides a horse-drawn vehicle or a buggy does not have enough visibility. The driver is unable to see the vehicles at the rear when the cart or the buggy is carrying a large load. Therefore, if you are trying to pass a horse-drawn vehicle on road, you should be extra cautious. You should slow down your car while passing the buggy and also provide the vehicle enough space and room if you are giving it a pass. Another thing to be cautious of is that the horse-drawn buggies may take a left turn sometimes, into the drivers and the fields. Slowing down your car or vehicle may help you solve many of the issues and drive safely through the buggy.

Overcoming issues related to animal behavior

Animals like horses may also be affected by certain behavioral issues, which may be dangerous for other drivers on road. For instance, a horse may get easily nervous at an intersection and may also backup some distance before the horse-drawn vehicle completely comes to a stop. Therefore, you should always ensure that there is some space between your car and the horse-drawn vehicle in the front when you are stopping at a traffic light. You should have a space somewhere between 15 to 12 feet between your car and the horse-drawn vehicle, for safety purposes.

Choosing the right line

If there is no center line on the road, you should be driving to the right side of the road’s center. In other cases, you should be driving right to the dividing strip, dividing line, or the single continuous line. Only take evasive actions when it is reasonable and necessary. In such scenarios, assess the situation properly and see to it that there is no risk to other road users or yourself. Avoid obstructing the path of others.

Conclusion

With the horse-drawn vehicles and the buggies close to you, should always be driving at a slow or a reasonable speed. You should stop completely if the vehicle is crossing your road ahead or is coming towards you. For these vehicles, you should avoid making loud noises like honking the horn. You can ensure that you have a safe drive by following the tips given above.