The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1908-09-24
THE LAW Of
THE HIGHWAY

I'LL lIEullUHI
Since the advent of the automobile,
drivers of all kinds of vehicles have
been confused as TO what the actual
law of the road is. The swiftly rum
ming autos passing vehicles on the
highway, and in many instances caus-
ing spirited horses to Jump and rear,
has aroused form of antagOnism
among many drivers of horses, who,
when an automobile comes up in the
back of them refuse to move from TIL s
beaten track of traffic. In some ih
stances collisions have occurred.
The law of the road, according to the
American and English Encyclopaedia
of Law, which is accepted and quoted
by the supreme court of state and nA-
ton, covers this question in a very
thorough form. The law is as follows<
Law of the Road
"When vehicles are going in the
same direction the driver of the rear
vehicle must govern himself by the
movements of that in front and should
have his horse or vehicles under such
reasonable control as to be able to stop
and prevent a collision. The foremost
driver must, on the other hand, use
reasonable precaution, if he desires TO
turn his vehicle, to see that this does
not result in injury to the vehicle be-
hind him, but he is not bound abso-
lutely to see that no such injury re-
suits, and one driving has the right to
turn off into side street even if
wagon is behind him.
May Pass, but With Care
elf two persons in separate vehicles
are travelling in the same directioN-
neither is compelled TO travel behinh
the other, nor has either the exclusive
right to precede the other, and the reAr
traveller may pass TO the front when he
can do so with safety. If, as the F.
suit Of an attempt to pass, injury e.
suits without fault on the part of the
driver in front, The latter may recover.
The question Of ordinary care varies
with the width Of the highway pracki-
cable for travel, the season of the year
and other circumstances. And in case
there is danger in passing, it may be
the duty of the hindmost vehicles TO
stop and give warning to the one I'm
front.
THE driver of the foremost vehicle
who knows of the intention of The
other to pass must likewise exercise.
reasonable care to avoid injury by him
and it has been said that he should
yield an equal share of the road, if
called upon to do so, if that be practi-
cable, and if this is not practicable, the
passing must be deferred until more
favorable time is reached. But if one
has no notice of the presence of any
vehicle behind him, there is no duty
upon him to keep to any particular
part of the highway.
1t has generally been understood
| that if driver of vehicle is passing
| along Oak street or any other thor
| oughfare that it was necessary that he
keep to the right of the center of the
road. The law on the other hand says
"provided, there are no other teams or
vehicles having occasion or desire to
pass, everyone has the right to travel
on any part of the highway which
| may suit his convenience"
Right Side In Dark
Continuing the law says: "It has
occasionally been stated that in driv-
ing at night the rule to keep to the
right of the road should be strictly ad-
hered to as being the only mode Of
avoiding an accident, and that one
failing to do is liable for any resulting
injuries. But on the other hand, it
has been held that one is not bound to
travel on the right side of the road
merely because it is dark.
Word has been received that Adel-
! bert Stewart, who left Baraboo some
time ago, has joined the army at the
/ jefferson barracks near st. Louis.