Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-21
GENERAL RULES FOR AUTOS
international Conference Adopts
Rules to Govern Drivers.
SEVERAL STATES HAVE SIGNED
Provision is Made for the Condition
of the Car and Also for Control
of IL on the Roads of All
Countries.

The recent international Conference of
Delegates, which met in Paris to consider
the question of adopting uniform regula-
lions for motor traffic in the countries
represented, has made the following recon-
mendations, which have already been
signed by several of the states concerned:
Every motor car to obtain international
permission to be driven on the public high
way must either have been certified as fit
to be used, after examination by a compe-
tent authority or by an association en-
powered by such an authority, or must be-
long to a type certified in accordance with
the aforesaid method. The examination
must be based particularly upon the fol-
lowing points:
l. The mechanism must be Of a reliable
nature, and constructed to obviate, as far
as possible, all risk Of fire or explosions;
to obviate all risk of frightening horses
by its noise; to constitute no other source
Of danger to traffic, and to cause no seri-
Gus convenience to road users by smoke or
vapor.
2. A motor car must be provided with the
following mechanical parts:
(a) A powerful steering gear that allows
turns to be taken easily and safely.
Oh Two systems of brakes, Independent
of one another and adequately efficient;
one at least of these systems must be
quickly operating, to act directly on the
wheels, or on drums made in one piece
with the wheels.
Co A device that can prevent, even on
steep hills, all backward movement, in the
event Of one of the brake systems failing
to ensure such a condition.
Every motor car exceeding $50 ky. in
weight unladen must be furnished with an
arrangement by which the driver can,
from his seat, reverse by means OF the
motor.
8. The gears must be- so grouped that
the driver can operate them without ceas-
ing to view the road.
4. Every motor car must be provided
with plaques indicating the firm that has
constructed the vehicle, and the makers
chassis number, the horsepower of the
motor, or the number and bore of the cyl
inders, and the unladen weight of the
vehicle.
Conditions for Drivers.
The driver of a motor car must possess
those qualifications hat afford an ade-
quate guarantee of safety to the public.
In so far as international traffic is con-
cerned, no person may drive a motor car
without having received permission to do
so from a competent authority or from an
association empowered by such an author
ity, after he has given proof of his fitness.
No permission may be given to persons
under IS years of age.
International Road Certificates.
In order to ensure for International traf-
fic the carrying out of the conditions slip
ulated in sections 1 and 2, internationa
road certificates shall be granted accord.
ing to the following method: The certifi-
Gates shall be valid for one year from the
date of their issue. International road GER
t~ificates granted by the authorities of one
Of the contracting governments, or by an
association empowered by such govern.
ment with the countersign of the author.
ity, shall give free access to traffic circula.
ton in all the other contracting states
and shall be recognized there as valid