Elkhart County Sheriff Brad Rogers has partnered with the Northern Indiana Safety Association to better educate those who operate horse drawn vehicles and reduce the number of crashes. Just one year ago, two children were killed near Middlebury when the pony cart they were in was involved in an accident.

NISA, composed of members of the Amish Community, provides a manual intended for horse and buggy drivers operating on public roadways, but the manual is also useful to motorists who may not be familiar with horse and buggy operations.

The manual covers topics including courtesy, conduct, buggy lighting, age of operators, driving on the road, and rules of the road.

“The sheriff and the Amish Safety Committee recongizes the potential danger caused by the motoring public encountering horse-drawn vehicles and potential crashes, and this manual is an attempt to reduce accidents through increased awareness of all drivers on the roadways in Elkhart County,” said Rogers.

The Horse and Buggy Driver’s Manual is now available for pickup and distribution at the sheriff’s office, 26861 CR 26, Elkhart, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The publication is free.