The Robesonian., 1918-03-18
SAFETY FIRST
The Act Regulating the Use of
Automobiles in North Carolina
There s1ould Be Thorough
and Hearty Observance of the
Provisions of This Act.

The following from the Insurance
Department at Raleigh is of interest
to every citizen of the State:
The attention Of reinforcement
officials and citizens OF the State is
called to Chapter 140, Public Laws of
1917, "An Act regulating the use of
Automobiles in North Carolina. This
is most important chapter Of the
State laws, involving the protection
Of life and property on vast scale,
and every citizen should be familiar
with it's provisions. Here are some of
its especially important provisions
that should be constantly before the
public, and with which officials should
be thoroughly familiar for rigid en-
forcement:
/. Section provides that no per-
son under sixteen years of age, or
who is intoxicated, or who is not ply
sically and morally competent, shall
operate a motor vehicle.
2. Section Ia requires adequate
brakes and suitable signal and light
equipment.
3. Sections Is and 16 prescribe road
rules for drivers, requirements IN stop
ping and passing vehicles, for making
curves, turning corners and approach
ing locations that require extra eau
tion-all vital in the great cause of
"Safety First"
4. Section II prescribes speed reg
ulations, forbids reckless driving and
rates of speed greater than reasonable
and proper, having regard to volume
of traffic and general use Of the high
way. Any rates of speed in excess
tions of any city or town, or eighteen
miles in residence sections and twen-
five miles on public highways outside
of incorporated towns are forbidden.
5. Section 19 forbids the parking Of
automobiles within fifteen feet Of any
water hydrant for fire fighting. If
stopped within this fifteen-foot limit
of a fire plug, the machine must be
in charge of a person who is IN posi-.
ton to Immediately move it, in case of
necessity This space should be mark
ed off or each side of the hydrant IN
every city and town.
6. Section 20 makes violations Of
the provisions of the act nlisde-
meanor, with fine and impriso onment
as punishment.
Z Section % places the duty Of
y
public officer, marshal Or watchman
of any city or town, and upon any
sheriff of any county and the consta-
bles of any township, and there are
penalties prescribed for the failure OF
any officer to enforce the provisions
of the law, whether the violations are
under the immediate observation of
the officer, OF whether violations are
duly reported to officers by any clti-
zen.
Recently one life insurance c)mpany
reported 2,507 pollcyhoiders k LED by
automobiles during six yea .-lall-
1916-of which 100, or about 32 per
cent, were children under ten years
of age, and 1,125 or over IA per cent,
we're children under fifteen years of
ege.
The death rate per 1000 trebled
since 1911, and the figures for 1916
over 1915 showed an increase OF more
than 81 per cent.
A study of these figures and con-
citions shows that, as far as the IN
dustrial population is concerned, more
deaths are caused by automobiles than
by surface cars, subway trains, flcy-
cles. and horse-drawn vehicles combln-
ed. In 1916 the 756 deaths caused by
automobiles approaches very closely
the 799 persons insured in this COM
pany killed by steam railway.
The State Insurance Commissioner
wants to cooperate in every way pos
sible with officers of the law and the
people generally in bringing about
in all parts of the State thorough and
hearty observance of the provisions
Of this act. to the end that there may
be an eliminatin of the terrible toll
of life and property that reckless or
improper and incompetent handling OF
automobiles entails upon this State
and Nation.
JAMES R. YOUNG.
Insurance Commissioner.
Raleigh, N. c.