CENTREVILLE, Mich. (Michigan News Source) –When cars and Amish buggies share the road, paying close attention to safety can mean the difference between life and death.

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office joined the Amish community on Saturday, July 11, for the first St. Joseph County Amish Safety Day. The community event had one goal: helping keep families safe.

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Sheriff Chad Spence said that although more than 200 people attended the event, he measured its success by the number of conversations.

“Everywhere you looked, people were asking questions, sharing ideas, and learning from one another,” Sheriff Spence said. “When people leave an event talking about safety with their families and neighbors, that’s a successful day.”

St. Joseph County is home to roughly 2,000 Amish residents. According to the Michigan State Police Traffic Crash Reporting System, there have been 261 crashes involving Amish buggies, horses, or sulkies statewide since 2016.

Michigan’s Amish population ranks sixth in the nation, with roughly 20,090 Amish residents. In addition to St. Joseph County, Amish communities are concentrated in Branch, Hillsdale, Osceola, Clare, and Mecosta counties.

While safety was the top priority, Sheriff Spence said one of the event’s highlights was seeing multiple generations of families participate together.

“Parents and grandparents were teaching and encouraging their children while learning about roadway safety,” Sheriff Spence said. “There is no greater reward than working alongside families to help keep them safe and help ensure they return home to one another each day.”

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He added, “We are grateful for the trust the Amish community has placed in us and look forward to continuing this partnership for many years to come.”