Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-04-02

LAWS OF LocoMoTlon.


"nses ana Practices That Haxs NJ
adopted ~ by Common Consent.
The duty OF every person who raa,-
ing others TO turn to the right, Il
very generally understood and acted
upon throughout the country. Tha
rule and its practice seems to have
Deen adopted as by common consent
ana Is not confined to persons travel.
ing IN carriages. but is recognized bv
.nose travelling on foot, and il con.
siaered as the proper thing to do in
private. 1t has prevented many seri-
gus accidents to travellers in vehicles.
ana conducted much to the safety and
comfort OF travellers on foot. for
VINO has not experienced the embar-
faSsing awkwardness Of being brought
lace to face with some person who r.
attempting to pass, has turned in the
same direction.
ms rule so generally observed has.
so iar as 1t relates to travellers in vebi-
cles been enacted in the Common
wealth OF Massachusetts as a law. with
penalty OF a sum not exceeding s20
for its violation.
Inc statutes provide that sswhen
persons meet each other ON bridge
or road, travelling with carriages
wagons, carts, sleds, sleighs or other
sehicies, each person shall seasonably
urlVe his carriage or other vehicle f.
the right of the middle OF the trayel,f
part OF such bridge or road, so tina.
their respective carriages may pass
each other without interference.
ms statute, first passed In 1920 and
re-enacted In 1896. 1860 and 1882. seems
to be plain and clear, but already sew
eral questions OF law have arisen relat-
ing to its meaning and have bess
determined by our courts. Notice first
that the statute applies to persons
meeting on bridge or road The
word road" is not to be limited to
roads which have been legally laid out
and have thereby become public WAYS.
but to any place adopted and fitted for
travel and actually used for that pur-
pose by the public. The statute an
plies. therefore, to private ways, and
to avenues leading to dwelling houses.
ooarding-houses. schools, railroad
stations. to private courts in cities.
passages to wharves, and to any place
actually used and set apart for the
| purpose OF being used for the passing
OF carriages. whether set apart BIZ
public authority or by license or per-
mission of the owner.
| Second. The statute applies to
streets in cities as well as to roads in the
country. Persons in our crowded city
streets frequently find it more con-
venient to use the middle of the street
| or to turn TO the left, and the rule re-
/ quiring them to turn to the right is
frequently disregraded. but the law
! makes no distinction between city
streets and country roads.
Third Notice that the statute re-
quires persons to drive TO the right of
the middle OF the Travelled part of the
road. There is a distinction between
the travelled part of the road and the
| track.
The travelled part is that part OF the
road which can be safely and conven-
| iently used for travel In case the
track is wholly on one side of this
part, as is frequently the case in
country roads, the Traveller is not
oblired to turn to the right of the can
ter OF the track. If he turns to the
right of the center OF the part which
can be safely and conveniently used
for travel ne complies with the Law If
! there is room on the other side of the
/ middle of that part for the other trav-
! eler TO pass.-Horse and Stable.