Following an increase in accidents involving Amish buggies in New York state, a new bill has been introduced requiring more reflective materials along with headlights and taillights on Amish buggies at night.

A few members of the local Amish community agree that the legislation is a good idea.

The bill, which may be taken up during the upcoming state legislative session, follows both an increase in the Amish population in the state along with the increase of accidents, including a few in Chautauqua County.

While many members of the Amish community locally already have headlights and taillights and reflective material, many agree that having a bill requiring it is a good idea.

“I think it is a wonderful idea,” Paul Troyer with Eastern States Metal in Clymer said. “Most people in the Clymer, Panama, Sherman community — 99% of them — already have lights and material, but there are some that don’t use it. It’s a good idea for safety reasons.”

Other community members agree that having lights and reflectors is a good thing, including Daniel Burkholder of Ravlin Hill Archery in Clymer. He added that the Clymer, Sherman, and Panama Amish communities have had lights and reflective materials on their buggies for a very long time already.

“We didn’t start with oil lamps or anything and had lights right out of the gate,” Burkholder said. “We’ve had lights on our buggies for about 25 or 30 years. We’ve had all of that stuff and our community already abides by that. There are some communities in places like Mayville and Frewsburg that don’t have all of the required lights, but we illuminate our buggies.”

Other states that already require flashing lights and reflective materials on Amish buggies at night include Pennsylvania, Indiana, Wisconsin and Ohio — where it has been reported that some members of the Amish communities are protesting on the grounds that the law infringes on their religious liberties, according to a previous Post-Journal article.