New-York tribune., 1906-08-10
ENGLISH MOTOR CAR PROPOSALS.

The serious and practical attention which is
given in Great Britain to the question of motor
car regulation on public highways is evinced In
a vOluminOus report which was laid before Par
lament just before adjournment, and which will
come up for consideration and TO serve as the
basis of legislation at the fall session 1t is the
report of the Royal Commission on Motor Cars,
and it may be accepted as embOdying the results
of deliberate elaborate impartial, judicial and
expert consideration as was ever given TO the
subject The prime object Of the commissions
Investigations. which is also the chief aim and
purpose of the twenty four recommendations in
the report, was to safeguard and promote the
common use Of the common highways-fOr motor
cars, bicycles, horse vehicles, equestrians pedes-
trians, business and pleasure, alike. We need
not dwell upon the obvious fact that that prin-
ciple is not only sound, but quite indispensable.
In the pursuance OF that aim the first prin-
ciple laid down by the commission is uniformity
to the greatest possible degree The proposed
new motor car law should cover all such vehi-
cles from motor cycles to traction engines.
More than that, far as possible, motor cars
should be governed by the same rules which
govern horse vehicles. To that end the twenty
miles an hour limit Of speed should be repealed
and no maximum rate whatever be prescribed,
excepting in cities, towns and villages where
there might be established at the discretion Of the
local authorities a twelve-mile rate such as is
now practically imposed upon horse vehicles
Inc principle is urged that excessive speed
deserves TO be punished not because il is speed
per Sc, but because it is dangerous or otherwise
injurious to the public If speed of fifty miles
an hour harms and menaces nobody there should
be no objection to II. If a speed Of five miles an
hour causes injury or grave peril it should be
checked.
The radical differences between motor cars
an
special rules for the former. Thus the greater
wear and tear caused by them upOn the road
ways makes II fitting to impose special taxes
upon them The commission recommends grad
uated scale Of taxes according TO the weight of
the car. These taxes would range from So a
year on a motor cycle 20 S42 year on car
weighing, unladen, more than twenty-five hun
dred pounds. These would be the rates for pleas.
ure vehicles. Trade and public service vehicles
would pay only one-haIf as much. The present
motor tax realizes about 100000 a year, and
the proposed tax would probably double
that sum. The proceeds OF the tax the COM
mission would devote TO the care and improve
ment Of the roads, that it would directly ben
eft those who paid il. The question of dust was
considered by the commission, and 1t was recOg-
nized that the clouds of dust raised by many
cars among the major evils TO be dealt with.
The raising Of dust might properly be deemed
fast. Yet instead of attempting to impose pen
alties for raising dust the commission on the
whole thought it better 20 pay attention to MAX
ing the roads dustless The making Of excessive
noise and the emission OF smoke, however, are
! sure symptoms Of either bad construction or
bad management and should be stopped under
! penalty. So with horns and sirens which
should be restricted TO their legitimate use. and
not be arrogantly or superfluously sounded.
There are many other details In this report
dealing with Instructions in the highways, iden-
| tifcation marks, lamps special penalties for
drunken drivers, right of appeal in cases of fine
greater than 20 shillings, annual registration OF
machines. responsibility of owners for acts OF
drivers etc, all OF which have been carefully
considered by the commission and upon all OF
which practical recommendations are made. The
whole subject will come up in Parliament in the
fall, and there is sure 20 be much debate upon
it. not only then. but in advance; and as motor
cars OF many kinds are employed here nearly