Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1919-08-14
s85 EXTRA. IOWA. THURSDAY. AUGUST IA.
MOTORISTS SHOULD
STUDY TRAFFIC LAWS

OIuuI nhTTlU lAWO
Persons driving automobiles will
do well to inform themselves re-
garding the provisions of the new
automobile law governing the oper-
alton of motor vehicles There
are many features governing the op-
Grafton Of automobiles in this law
that are netireiy new. Some of
them are drastic and the man who
s is operating his car in accordance
with the law have all the best of
the argument in case of collision.
The law provides that every mo-
tor vehicle shall be equipped with
suitable brakes and horn or signal
ing device The horn must be
sounded, (motorists should note
this provision) on approaching cross
ings, tops of hills and intersections
where the drivers view is OBJ
structed.
Lights on cars shall be kept burn
ing from a half hour after sunset to
half AN hour before sunrise. The
lights include two on front and a
red light on rear. ~
Headlights of greater than thirty
two candle power are barred with
out exception, no matter how they
are shaded or diffused. A headlight
of more than four candle power
must have the light shaded or diff
fused so that the beams seventy
five feet ahead of the car do not
rise higher than AZ inches from the
road. If a spot light is used, the
law makes it unlawful to turn it
into a drivers face &or even to the
left of the center of the road being
travelled.
The operator of car with the
cut-out open is absolutely barred on
any highway in the state.
Upon approaching person
walking in the road, or animal be-
ing led, driven or ridden, or on ap-
preaching an intersection, bridge,
sharp curve or steep ascent, the
under control and shall drive at a
safe and reasonable speed
Cars must be brought to stop
and remain at a standstill when APP
preaching a street car going in the
same direction from which passen-
gers are alighting or boarding.
Before stopping, turning or
changing the course of his car, the
driver must see that there is suffi-
cient space to make such move
ment in safety and must signal cars
following of his intention to make
such movements by raising and ex-
tending the hand and indicating
with it the direction in which he
wishes to turn.
The old law regarding the turn
Ling of corners is incorporated in the
new law In turning to the right
the law says keep as close to the
curb as possible and in turning to
the left, drive past the center of
the intersection before turning.
In cities and towns it is unlawful
to overtake and pass another car
at street intersections in the busi-
ness district. 1t is made unlawful
Ito operate car emitting an undue
amount of smoke or steam from the
exhaust.
| Tht law fixes the right-of-way for
one vehicle over another at inter
sections. The new feature of the
law is arbitrary and upsets many OF
the precedents established by GUS
| tom for travel in the city.
This important clause of the law
says: Where two vehicles are
approaching on any public street or
highway so that their paths will in
tersect and there is danger of col
lision, the vehicle approaching the
1 other from the right shall have the
right-of-way."
Worked out this means that:
All north bound traffic has the
right of way over east bound traf,
| fic.
All west bound traffic has, the
right Of way over north bound traf-
fic.
/ All south bound traffic has the
right of way over north bound trif-
fic.
All east bound traffic has the
right of way over south bound traf
i fic.
In other words, the driver should
remember that after December 1st
when approaching an intersection
\ that the car approaching the inter
i section from the drivers right ha!
the right-of-way.