New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-03
"Iocou0TTVES ON HIGHWAYS"

The question Of the regulation Of motor car
traffic on highways has at last been seriously
taken I'D in Great Britain. The law now in
force Is one OF 1896. clumsily but correctly
known as the Locomotives on Highways act
Conditions have materially changed since 1886
and accordingly Lord Balfour has introduced
an amendment designed TO meet them. The old
law was suited to railroad locomotives. trac-
ton engines steam rollers and the like. There
may be those who will protest against putting
the mile-a-minute Scarlet Scorcher" in that
category, yet such classification Will be MADE
in the amended law and the conservative Brit
ish public will doubtless approve ii. An auto
mobile is a locomotive engine. in sense and me
chanics as well as in law. But, of course, it
must he treated differently from a steam roller
1t is all very well TO prescribe that the latter
shall be preceded at a certain distance by
man afoot with a red flag or lantern. but it
would be absurd to make such prescription in
the case OF an automobile. So 1t would be alb
surd TO set a speed limit for steam roller that
can at most go only three or four miles an hour
but in the case of an automobile capable of run
ming fifty or sixty miles an hour such limit is
not only reasonable but necessary.
Under the law of 1886 the Local Government
Board was authorized to fix the maximum
speed Of locomotives on highways at not more
than fourteen miles hour. 1t did fix it at
twelve miles Now Lord Balfour rightly thinks
il unrea sonable TO set the same speed limit
for city streets and country roads. and so
proposes to abolish the legally prescribed limit
altogether and to give to local boards authority
TO make such speed rules as shall be suited to
the respective localities. The only general rule
he proposes is one forbidding the driving of
motor ears 'recklessly or at a speed dangerous
TO the public" Theoretically that is well But
in practice there is likely to be much trouble In
deciding what is reckless driving and what
speed is dangerous to the public. There are
those vino will complain of ten miles an hour as
reckless 1t might be If done by an ncom-
petent driver There are those who will in
sst that a speed of sixty miles an hour-when
they make it's not at all dangerous to the
public The proposed law, moreover prescfbes
that a driver may be punished for reckless or
too fast driving even though nobody was act
ually imperilIed. The plea that the road was
otherwise deserted and thus there was no harm
in "scorching." will not avail. The driver must
conduct himself as though the road were fully
occupied by it's normal traffic
Lord Balfour proposes to require each engine
10 be registered under a special number. and at
all times on the road TO display that number
legibly and conspicuously. That is necessary
for purposes Of identification, and has been
made necessary by the automobile drivers
themselves through their Disgusting themselves
with masks It seems to he understood in Eng
land that the masks and goggles are worn pri-
marty as q means of disguise and to prevent
recognition and identification in case damage is
done. the notion that they are necessary for,
protection from wind and dust being obviously
absurd. He first proposed to require each pro-
fessional motOrman to pass an examination and
secure license. but to exempt amateur drivers
from that requirement. Lord Rosebery and
others, however, called the wisdom of that plan
into question. 1t would compel the cabman,
who uses a slow moving vehicle, to prove his
capacity and get a license but would permit
the gentleman Of sporting proclivities TO go
scorching through town and country at will
with his mile-a-minute Crimson Corker' with
out any such supervision. Licenses are there
fore to be required of all.
One OF the most interesting features of Lord
Balfour's amendment is that relating to penal
ties. 1t is prescribed that any motorman who
! drives recklessly or dangerously. and who re-
! fuses to give his name, or who gives a false
! name 20 conceal his Identity shall for such re-
| fusa or deception be adjudged guilty of an adj
ditional violation of the law equal in gravity to
/ the first with which he was charged. For a first
| offence against the law the penalty shall be
fine of not more than 500 or Imprisonment for
not more than three months. and for a second
offence it shall be fine Of not more than $3.50
or imprisonment for not more than six months
The new law in New-York has been criticised
| as too severe. But what would New-Yo
''scorchers' say TO being locked up from three
! to six months whenever they run their engines
recklessly or refuse to reveal their identity to
those whose horses they have frightened?