Local Man Tries To Stop “Accident Waiting To Happen” At Amish School

A non-Amish man sees a tragedy waiting to unfold in his Wisconsin community – and is trying to prevent it.

As reported at WKOW, Jim Kostohrys says this “blind curve” & hill – right before drivers reach an Amish school – are a potentially deadly combo.

Have a look. Just past it, dozens of Amish children walk to, or get dropped off at school each day:

Kostohrys is a former police officer. Given that experience in particular, I think knows what he is talking about. I would certainly trust his eye on this.

Besides that, just looking at the image, it’s pretty obvious that’s a potentially dangerous road feature.

So Kostohrys has been advocating for local transportation authorities to put in school warning signs, to make drivers aware.

“I’ve seen that road get busier and busier and busier, and people are driving more recklessly,” he says. But with no luck.

It’s not really explained why nothing has been done, however.

This strikes me as odd because in other communities it’s pretty common to have school warning signs in the general area of Amish schools – just like municipalities have them for public schools.

Not only that, as the report explains, in Wisconsin it is state law to have such signs.

Seeking answers, the reporter reaches out to a county supervisor in the video below. But she does not get in touch with anyone, nor a return call by the time this report came out.

Take matters into your own hands?

The other thing that I considered is, have they thought about putting up their own signs? We have seen this sort of effort before.

However I think there are a few issues to consider:

• One is that using an official warning sign is likely a better choice, given that drivers are familiar with them and more quickly register their meaning (at least in theory).
• Another issue is the permissibility or legality of putting up your own signs. I don’t know the situation on that here.
• And finally, a proper DOT sign is going to stand up over time, whereas a homemade one might not.

Kostohrys may have tried to do so, but it’s not noted in the report. And as a former official of the law, I’m sure he wants to get this done through the proper channels.

The Amish share their appreciation

WKOW also reports that a local Amish “Elder” (probably meaning a Bishop or Minister) has even written a letter of appreciation – and support for the idea of school safety signs. Here’s the text:

“We as a community are very grateful for the concern and support of our outside neighbors and friends living around us. We fully support the idea of school signs for our 1-room school houses out in the country. For our safety and also people driving down the road. Let us live together in a respectful way.”

Good effort by Jim Kostohrys, and as we see here, his local Amish neighbors certainly appreciate it.

I also have to mention that as commendable as the effort is, as Kostohrys notes, driver behavior has gotten worse.

And having a sign or light doesn’t prevent stupid or reckless drivers from doing what they do (as we’ve seen in other cases).

That doesn’t mean it’s not worth putting up the signs, though.

And as noted in the letter, it’s not only for the benefit of the Amish. No driver wants to hit an Amish adult or child on the road, or have an accident attempting to avoid that.

“It’s a particularly tough curve area. It’s blind,” says Kostohrys. “And there’s gonna be an accident there someday. And I can’t live without doing something about it.”

So will the powers-that-be get on the ball, and get some appropriate signs up – as the law requires?

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