Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-20
NEW ANTO LAW IN
Effect IN ITALY
LOCAL AUTHORITIES ALLOWED
TO MAKE CHANGES
Drivers Must Qualify, and Special
Regulations Regarding Horns
and Lights Are En=
forced

forced
A new automobile law, passed last
summer, has just gone into effect in
Italy. 1t is very comprehensive meas
ure, and it's sixty-nine sections cover
every detail relating to the use of mo-
tor vehicles, in which category are in
cluded motorcycles described as We
hicles with two or three wheels), auto
mobiles (vehicles with four wheels),
propelled by any form of motive power,
and trackless trolley cars.
While the law applies to all of Italy,
local authorities are permitted to put
in force special regulations, provided,
however that they do not conflict with
the general law. They must be pre-
| sented to the minister of public works
for approval. Speed limits of nine miles
an hour in towns and of twenty-five
miles an hour by day and twelve by
| night in the country are specified, and
the use of exhaust cut-outS and sirens
in cities is forbidden. Two powerful
headlights must be carried, but unduly
glaring lamps are not permitted. Dri-
yers must be sound in mind and
health, and must have a certificate of
| proficiency. Horns giving distinctive
notes of warning are prescribed for mo-
tor cars and motorcycles, but in each
case a single-note horn must be used.
The law follows:
Section of the law relates to per-
missible speeds. 1t provides that me-
| chanically propelled vehicles must al
ways be so driven as not to obstruct
free circulation, and not to constitute
a danger to other persons or objects
on the road; but in no case must the
speed be greater than Is kms. (9.4
miles) per hour in the city, 40 kms
(25 miles) per hour in the country dur
ing the day, and 20 kms. Q21a miles)
per hour at night. Besides, the speed
must be moderated at the approach to
hidden turns, road intersections, rail-
way grade crossings and points of
congested traffic. The speed must also
be reduced in accordance with munich
pal regulations, as indicated by signs
| along the roads passing through these
municipalities, and at crosswalks where
people are crossing the roads.
Denote Light Power
Every vehicle must carry two lights
in front, throwing a beam of white
| light light ahead which illuminates the
road for a distance of 100 yards, and
in the rear a lamp. throwing a white
| light sideways, and a red light to the
rear. Lamps must be lighted from
dusk to dawn, and also during the day
| in case of fog. The use of glaring
| headlights in the city is forbidden. All
mechanically propelled vehicles must
constantly keep to the right side of
the road and pass to the left side only
| on oVertaking other vehicles. NUM-
cipal councils of cities with over $4,000
| inhabitants may decree that within
these cities all vehicles shall keep to
| the left, in which case this must be
properly announced by signs at the
entrance to the city. All motor vehicles
must be equipped with a one-toned
| horn. The tone must be of low note
for automobiles, and of high note for
motorcycles. All other signaling de-
vices are forbidden, except that within
the open country sirens may be used
in a Subsidiary way.
| All vehicles must carry metallic reg
| istration number plates both in front
and rear. For privately owned cars
the plates must be of rectangular form,
with a white background, with the
number corresponding to the prov
| ince in which the car is registered
thereon in red, and the registration
number in black. Each numeral must
| occupy a space inches high by IA
! inches wide, and have a thickness of
stroke of three-eighths of an inch. The
| figures must be in relief. In case the
front number plate should interfere
with the normal functions of the radia-
tor, the number may be painted on the
| front of the vehicle with enamel paint.
The number plates must be kept clean,
so that the numbers can always be
easily read.
Exhaust cut-out can be used only in
| the open country. Each car must have
two Independent brakes. If other than
rubber tires are used, they must not
| be less than 4 inches wide. The total
weight per axle must not exceed %
| quintals Cor 110 lb5.), unless special
| permission is obtained from the min
| lister of public works. For the opera
tion of road trains q special permit
must be obtained from the minister OF
! public works. Every vehicle for pri-
vate use must be registered with the
authorities of the province in which the
owner resides. Applicant must present
a copy of the official acceptance of the
| type of vehicle and statement of the
manufacturer that this vehicle corre-
spends with the type accepted This
part of the regulations is similar to the
! corresponding part of the French law
Manufacturers wishing to have type
| of car "occepted'' must apply to the
minister of public works, inclosing a
| fee of "a. The chassis is submitted to
a test by officials of the railway bu-
reau, for which a fee of 16s Sd must
be paid.
Driver Must Qualify
Motor vehicles can be driven only
| by persons who perfectly understand
/ the construction and operation of the
machine. To that end, every driver
must provide himself with a certificate
| of capacity, which is issued by the pre-
/ feet of the province in which he resides
When applying for this certificate, he
must submit to the prefect a certif-
cate of birth, showing that he has COM
| pleted his twenty-flrst year. If he is
not yet twenty-one years of age, but
has passed his eighteenth year, he
must obtain the consent of the legal
representative; also penal certificate
| of recent date, medical certificate
| of recent date, with special reference
| to his faculties of sight and hearing
| and a certificate of graduation from
| a drivers school recognized by the
minister of public works and the min
lister of agriculture, industry and COM
| merce In case the latter certificate
| cannot be furnished, applicant must
pass an examination before an official
| of the railway inspection bureau, fol
which fee of SIS 4d is charged. When
a driver is convicted of an infraction
| of the law, his certificate of prof.
| cheney is returned to the prefect who
| issued it, and the conviction is entered
| .,,,a,, Tn aaca nf an arnidpnt in