The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-07-30
DRIVE TO THE RIGHT.

Alderman I. II. Elicit deserves credit
for the amendment of the City ordi-
nance providing a sane method for
the control of traffic in the streets.
sUnder the provisions of this Ordinance,
which was approved July 10, instant:
II THE driver of every vehicle,
whether propelled by muscular power.
}or otherwise. meeting another vehicle
FIN a street or public alley shall drive
ito the right hand. so that each may
ipass the other without interference,
land any such vehicle overtaking an
sother vehicle shall pass to the left of
I the vehicle overtaken, and in order
street shall be headed in the same
tdirection, as far as practicable, all
tdriyers are required to turn, II ncces-
ssary when stopping at the sidewalk,
$50 that the sidewalk will be on the
right of the driver when the stop is
an&re: and no vehicle shall stop or
b,e left in front of the entrance to
ian office building. theatre, hotel. de-
APARTMENT store or other entrances to
lplaces of congestion, for longer time
than is sufficient to deliver the occu-
pants or goods intended for such
tbunding. and the driver in charge OF
,such vehicle shall move up promptly
ito permit others to arrive for like
PURPOSES In no instance shall, the
ldriyer OF a vehicle stop the same in
tho middle of a street or public alley.
q sor Composite an intersecHng strect OR
alley, or upon any granite crossing.
tbutrhe shall always stop the same as
linear to the sidewalk as he can with
out. being on it Any driver violating
this section, as well as the owner of
- l,r, ip1n ie
sdone with the consent of the owner.
fshail for each offence be liable to
stine. OF not less than five nor more than
twenty-five dollars for each offence,
recoverable before the Police Justice
tof the city of Richmond"
4 This Ordinance is now in force. Mr..
fEllett has had five thousand copies of
1T printed at his own expense for dis
tribution. and the police authorities
i1laxe received instructions to see that
the law is obeyed. The Ordinance is
not we'll drawn and does not go far
enough. but 1t is good enough as far
as 1t goes. 1t would have been better
and simpler. in our opinion, IL the reg
iulation of the traffic in the streets had
Ibeen placed absolutely under the con-
ttrol-of the police authorities. 1t can
not be controlled in any other way
Ebut 1t could be controlled and would
lbe controlled by the police authorities
If they We're given power to do 1t.
The rule requiring all vehicles to
arrive to the right is a good rule; in
s1oreign countries. the rule is to drive
ito the left That would be better
+ srule. but 1t would be harder to learn
i'm this great country, where we have
railways gone to the right, than the
:rule which is laid down in the Elicit
Ordinance 1t will be noted that the
Ordinance applies to the drivers of
lautomobiles as we'll as to the drivers
Sof carriages. wagons and drays, and
tto riders OF bicycles and motorcycles,
tand all the rest OF the many vehicles
with which this town is crowded.
When the new Council begins its
work 1t should amend the Elicit Ord-
Enance by comforting upon the police
Ruthorities the power they must have
ar any traffic regulations are to be
wholly effective.