Articles

Lighting and Marking for Horse-Drawn Buggies, Carriages, Carts, and Wagons

Traditional use of horse-drawn buggies and wagons are a main mode of transportation where visibility is important.

Save for later Print

Updated:

December 1, 2025

Skip to the end of the images gallery

Traffic sign for amish horse and buggy.

Skip to the beginning of the images gallery

Anabaptist communities, including Amish and Old Order Mennonite communities, are located in several rural areas across Pennsylvania.

Horse-drawn buggies travel at a much slower speed than motor vehicles. By the time a motor vehicle operator realizes that a buggy is in front of them, the vehicle's braking time has been significantly decreased. Typically, a vehicle traveling 55 mph on a dry road surface will need approximately 400 feet to stop. However, the distance needed to stop significantly increases as the speed increases because the faster a vehicle is going, the longer the stopping distance it needs. Because it takes a vehicle a longer time to stop, it is important for an operator to identify a slow-moving vehicle in front of them as soon as possible. As shown in the image below, if a vehicle driving 55 mph is following a buggy going 5 mph, the vehicle could impact the buggy in 6½ seconds.

Reports of motor vehicle and horse-drawn buggy collisions are numerous. Safety specialists are not trying to alter the Anabaptist way of life by recommending lighting and marking changes for buggies and wagons, but they are trying to reduce the number of motor vehicle and buggy collisions. This article provides useful information that may help all users of public roadways experience safer rural driving.

Lighting and Marking Recommendations

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) Lighting and Marking of Animal-Drawn Equipment revision was approved in December 2012 and reaffirmed in January 2023. Below are their recommendations for the lighting and marking of animal-drawn vehicles, which include buggies. The purpose of this standard is to implement a unique lighting and marking pattern for animal-drawn vehicles that is acceptable to many Anabaptist cultures.

ASABE's Recommendations for Lighting and Marking of Buggies and Wagons
Item	Number	Color	Mounting	Options
SMV Emblem (Rear)	1	Retroreflective red border surrounding a fluorescent orange triangle center.	Mounted 2 to 6 feet from the surface of the road in the rear center.	No alternative options exist for an SMV emblem.
Headlights¹ (front)	At least 2	White	Symmetrically around the vehicle centerline, facing forward on the front of the vehicle in a position that provides the least blockage from drawing animal(s).	As an alternative to headlamps and tail lamps, an operator can use at least 2 double-faced lamps protruding from the sides at the widest points between 2.5 and 12 feet high, visible from the front and rear. Lamps should have a clear lens to the front and a red lens to the rear.
Tail Lamps¹ (rear)	At least 2	Red	Symmetrically as widely spaced about the vehicle centerline on the rear of the vehicle. Should be widely spaced laterally as practical and mounted between 2.5 and 12 feet high.	An optional turn signal system may be incorporated into the rear red tail lamp or the flashing amber lamps. If incorporated into flashing amber lamps or red tail lamps, the lamp on the side of the turn should flash and lamp on opposite side should steady burn.
Hazard Flasher¹ (Front & Rear)	At least 2	Amber	Symmetrically about centerline and widely spaced laterally. Visible from both front and rear and mounted between 2.5 and 12 feet high.	No other options exist for amber flashing lights.
Retroreflective material (rear)	2-inch x 9-inch strips	Alternating between red retroreflective and orange-red retroreflective material.	Outlining the sides and top of the rear of the vehicle.	Where local cultures use white retroreflective material, it should be at least 1 inch wide. If using this option, it is recommended to mount an SMV emblem.
Retroreflective material (front)	At least two 2-inch x 9-inch strips	Yellow retroreflective material	At least 2 strips should be symmetrically around the centerline and as widely spaced as possible on the front of the machine.	Where local cultures use white retroreflective material, it should be at least 1 inch wide.
Retroreflective material (side)	At least two 2-inch x 9-inch strips	Yellow retroreflective material	Minimum of 2 strips of yellow retroreflective material symmetrically mounted along each side of the vehicle frame. If vehicle has a tongue or visible shaft on the outside of the animal, place at least one additional yellow strip on the outside of the tongue or shaft.	Where local culture uses white retroreflective material, it should be at least 1 inch wide. Yellow or white retroreflective material may be attached to the harness, to the animal's legs or both.
Orange flag or alternative aerial device on a pony cart	1 - 2	Orange flag or alternative aerial device mounted on left side (as viewed from the rear) of a pony cart.	The bottom edge of the flag should be between 4 - 7 feet above the road surface.	Two flags are also acceptable. Additional retroreflective tape can be wrapped around the flag shaft to enhance visibility.

1 Animal-drawn vehicles with a lighting system should be equipped with a battery-operated or generator-powered system. Batteries may be typical storage, deep cycle, or gel cell conforming to SAE J537.

Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) Emblem

A SMV emblem is a highly reflective and retroreflective sign required on the back of any vehicle traveling under 25 mph. The SMV is an equilateral triangle with a minimum height of 14 inches and constructed of reflective and retroflective materials. The inside part of the triangle is a fluorescent orange material that provides visibility during daytime hours and outlined by red retroreflective material that enhances nighttime visibility. The emblem should be visible from at least 1,000 feet away, either day or night. The SMV is designed to increase the visibility of a horse-drawn buggy or wagon through the use of conspicuity material, which makes the equipment stand out or be more conspicuous.

The orange fluorescent center portion of the SMV emblem is the most susceptible to light and moisture, which can cause it to fade and change color over time. Remove dirt and debris from the SMV emblem, and replace it if it starts to fade. This maintains the best reflective properties. The retroreflective material in the outer border of the SMV emblem reflects the headlights of vehicles approaching from the rear at night. Retroreflective material holds up longer than fluorescent material. Newer SMVs' emblems have significantly improved reflective properties and can be detected from a distance of up to a mile.

Pennsylvania State Law

Pennsylvania state law has the following requirements for all horse-drawn buggies:

Flashers/Warning Lights - Four-way flashers must be used on all horse-drawn buggies when driving at night. Two flashing amber lights should be located on each side of the buggy, no higher than 4 feet from the ground. The red flashing lights should be a minimum of four inches in diameter with a surface area of at least 3 square inches, as required by state regulation. These lights are also the turn signals.
SMV Emblem - The SMV emblem is required by Pennsylvania state law for any vehicle traveling less than 25 mph. The SMV should be displayed flat against the back of the buggy from 2-6 feet off the ground. A standard SMV is a 12-inch orange triangle with a 1¾-inch red border, covering 72 square inches. If the SMV emblem is faded, then it should be replaced to provide the best visibility.
Headlights - Two white headlights located on the top front of the buggy, which are tilted slightly downward and within 3 inches of the buggy's edge. Headlights should be turned on as soon as it begins to get dark. An operator could be fined if they fail to use their headlights when required by state law.

In addition to the required flashers, SMV emblem, and headlights, additional recommendations in the Pennsylvania Horse and Buggy Driver's Manual to improve visibility include the following:

Warning lights - Place two amber flashing warning lights (4 inches in diameter) on each side of the buggy no higher than four feet from the ground.
Reflective tape - Reflective tape should be placed on the front of the buggy to improve visibility. White reflective tape provides the best visibility at 500 feet. Since the red/silver mix tape is approved for use on trucks and trailers, it should not be used on buggies. Reflective tape can increase visibility when used on the sides of buggies and horses, allowing drivers to view a buggy from the side.
Rear view mirror - A buggy should be equipped with a rear view mirror to assist the buggy driver in seeing traffic behind them.

Buggy and Wagon Operators

Alerting motorists to the presence of your buggy or wagon on the roadway is vital to collision and injury prevention. The quicker a motor vehicle can see that you are a slow-moving vehicle, the quicker the motorist is able to reduce their speed and maintain a proper distance. Within the rules of the local Anabaptist order or sect, maintain the approved lighting and marking recommendations, including an SMV emblem, lights, and reflective tape. Obey all rules of the road and be aware of the more dangerous driving locations in the area. Remind young buggy or wagon drivers of the "rules of the road" because many buggy and wagon incidents involve young operators.

Motor Vehicle Drivers

Motor vehicle operators must realize that braking time decreases quickly as they approach a horse-drawn buggy or wagon. Motorist should abide by posted speed limits and stay alert to their surroundings. When following a buggy, leave plenty of room between you and the buggy until a safe passing zone is reached. By keeping a safe distance, it will allow additional room to pass the buggy or wagon and will also provide space in the event that the buggy stops, turns suddenly, or a frightened horse causes the buggy to veer out of control. When passing a buggy or wagon, do not do anything (e.g., blowing your horn) that may startle the horse.

Sources

ANSI/ASAE, EP576.2 October 2012 (R2023), Lighting and Marking of Animal-Drawn Equipment, ASAE Standards, American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE), St. Joseph, MI 49085.
Bean, T., Yarosh, A., Lawrence, T., & James, R. (2008) This sign means caution: Driving safely in Amish country. The Ohio State University Extension.
Horse and Buggy Driver's Manual. (2023). Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
Jepsen, S. & Mann, A. (2012) Lighting and marking recommendations for pony carts and other low-profile, animal-drawn vehicles. The Ohio State University Extension.

Prepared by: Dennis J. Murphy, Distinguished Professor and Linda M. Fetzer, Extension Associate

Agenda

Authors