In 2018, an Amish father of five died when his buggy was struck by a car. This crash was one of six that year on State Route 6; most of them caused by distracted drivers, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Most of those crashes occurred where the shoulder of SR 6 ended, forcing buggies into traffic. SR 6 (U.S. 43), in Lawrence County, TN, which is home to a large Amish community, connects Etheridge and Lawrenceburg. While the roadway has a wide shoulder for buggies, it narrows near Good Hope Road, forcing buggies into the travel lanes and leading to several serious crashes. To improve safety, the Tennessee Department of Transportation constructed a 1.04-mile-long dedicated horse and buggy path on the west side of SR 6 from Good Hope Road to Remke Lane. The new path is 14 feet wide and includes traffic signals at key intersections. This $5 million project provides a safer route for buggies and connects them to less-trafficked local roads.
America's Transportation Awards 