Zachary’s Law: Safer Roads for All Ohioans

Zachary’s Law: Safer Roads for All Ohioans

The Issue

Zachary's Law Website

My 20-year-old son, Zachary, was killed in a crash involving a horse-drawn buggy on a 55 mph state highway in Holmes County, Ohio.

Zachary was riding his motorcycle, following all traffic laws, wearing his helmet, and doing everything “right.” As he crested a hill, he hit a sudden traffic backup caused by a buggy traveling ~10 mph on a high-speed road with no shoulder and no designated lane. With oncoming traffic to the left and a fence-lined ditch to the right, he had nowhere to go. He crashed into the SUV ahead, suffering catastrophic injuries. Thirteen months later, he died from those injuries.

Zachary’s Law would require all Ohio roads with posted speed limits of 55 mph or higher to:

1. Include designated lanes or shoulders for non-motorized vehicles (buggies, bicycles, etc.), or

2. Reroute them to safer, lower-speed roads if safe lanes can’t be built.

This is not about banning or targeting any community—it’s about fixing outdated laws that allow vehicles traveling at drastically different speeds to share the same space without proper safeguards.

Ohio has one of the largest Amish populations in the U.S., which means more shared-road situations than almost anywhere else. Without changes, tragedies like Zachary’s will continue.

📢 Sign and share to demand Ohio lawmakers pass Zachary’s Law and make our roads safe for everyone.

4,515

The Issue

Zachary's Law Website

My 20-year-old son, Zachary, was killed in a crash involving a horse-drawn buggy on a 55 mph state highway in Holmes County, Ohio.

Zachary was riding his motorcycle, following all traffic laws, wearing his helmet, and doing everything “right.” As he crested a hill, he hit a sudden traffic backup caused by a buggy traveling ~10 mph on a high-speed road with no shoulder and no designated lane. With oncoming traffic to the left and a fence-lined ditch to the right, he had nowhere to go. He crashed into the SUV ahead, suffering catastrophic injuries. Thirteen months later, he died from those injuries.

Zachary’s Law would require all Ohio roads with posted speed limits of 55 mph or higher to:

1. Include designated lanes or shoulders for non-motorized vehicles (buggies, bicycles, etc.), or

2. Reroute them to safer, lower-speed roads if safe lanes can’t be built.

This is not about banning or targeting any community—it’s about fixing outdated laws that allow vehicles traveling at drastically different speeds to share the same space without proper safeguards.

Ohio has one of the largest Amish populations in the U.S., which means more shared-road situations than almost anywhere else. Without changes, tragedies like Zachary’s will continue.

📢 Sign and share to demand Ohio lawmakers pass Zachary’s Law and make our roads safe for everyone.

The Decision Makers

Mike DeWine
Ohio Governor
U.S. Senate
2 Members
Jon Husted
U.S. Senate - Ohio
Bernie Moreno
U.S. Senate - Ohio
Chris Young
Holmes County Engineer
Joe Miller
Holmes County Commission (Term Commencing 1/2)
Eric Strouse
Holmes County Commission (Term Commencing 1/3)

Supporter Voices

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Petition created on August 7, 2025