Hi Bob,

Bob Ackley wrote in a message to Richard Webb:
 RW> A few years ago, and I'm sure Bob can recall  this, there was a
 RW> controversy in IOwa regarding those folks.  STate govt wanted them to
 RW> put those triangular slow moving vehicle emblems on the back of their
 RW> wagons and buckboards. IT violated their religious prohibition
 RW> against adornments however.  dOn't recall how it came out as I moved
 RW> to NEW ORleans before it shook out.

BA> I remember the controversy, but I was living in Nebraska at the
BA> time.   Amish buggies in Iowa have the fluorescent red/orange
BA> triangles on the back. 

THen state govt must have won that round .

BA> Some drivers ignore the slow moving vehicles, though.  Not too many
BA> years ago a fellow had completely restored an old sutler's wagon and
BA> was driving it along US34 behind two draft horses.  An 18-wheeler
BA> rear-ended him doing 55 mph, totalled
BA> the wagon (made firewood out of it), killed one horse and put him in
BA> the hospital.  Of
BA> course, the wagon had the triangle on its back.  And also of course,
BA> the trucker was
BA> going much too fast for conditions - he obviously could not stop in
BA> the distance visible
BA> to him - and in broad daylight.

Having traveled U.s. 34 the whole width of the state of Iowa I'd say much
too fast for that highway with the kind of traffic that's on it.

tHese days the part of eastern Ia. where I resided has freeway for U.S. 34
as part of that avenue of the saints. Iirc. Burlington clear to Mt.
Pleasant is now four lane freeway type, and supposed to extend clear to
Ottumwa eventually.

Usually if heading into NEbraska I'd avoid U.S. 34 and head on north
somehow, usually highway 78 to 163 and then catch the interstate out of DM.
Yah, 78 was similar road, but once 163 bypassed Pella and the snafu of the
town square it was good running.  Also even though you had some amish and
the ubiquitous farm machinery on 78 it was lightly enough traveled, and
lightly enough policed that you could make good time, especially at night.

Regards,
           Richard
... I'll have two brains on drugs with bacon toast and coffee.
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+