The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1920-12-09
TRAFFIC LAWS OF IDAHO
ANDNEWONESPROPOSED
STATE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
CALLS ATTENTION TO DE-
SIRABLE PROVISIONS.
(From Idaho Highway Bulletin

touring car and the motor truck are
the greatest enemies of the roads. 1t
is easy to say that the surfacing
should be built to fit the traffic. rath-
er than regulating the traffic to save
the highways. but with thousands of
miles of road to be improved and linn
tied funds available for the work, the
traffic must adapt itself to whatever
it may find in the way of surfacing
until more money can be provided.
Idaho has some excellent traffic
laws, but they are still far from per
lection. The coming legislature will
be asked to remedy many conditions
which are not covered in the statutes
at present
Idaho has no law regulating glar-
ing headlights. The careful driver
dims his lights when approaching an
other vehicle. The road hog blinds
every one he passes and there is no
law to compel him to act like a gen
ueman. Even the most courteous
driver occasionally forgets to dim,
and the law must provide that all
cars shall be equipped with headlights
that are safe at all times. Such head
lights are made, and the cost of in
Sailing them is very slight Even
were it a heavy expense one smashed
car and MANNED driver are worth far
more than all the glaring headlights
in the state.
The law should provide that all We
hicles, whether horse drawn or mo- |
tor-driven, must carry lights after |
sunset. vegetable wagon has just |
as low a state of visibility as the
rear of an automobile, and it does not
salve the feelings of either driver
when the autoist pays for the wreck
which he could not avoid
Idaho has a law protecting bridges
from traction engines, but nothing is
said about the highways If a driver
wishes to go down the road with his
cleats tearing large holes in the sur
facing, there is nothing to prevent
him except the general statute pro-
viding a penalty for destruction of
the highways. Cleats on traction en-
gines are very necessary. at times,
but the road is no place for them.
Most men take care of the highway
which they must use in common with :
other citizens of the community. The
law should be amended as to make
the destructive minority equally
careful.
Weight and Width of Tires. +
Idaho has regulated the width of c
tires for wagons. but motor trucks i
were not mentioned in the act. With lr
the truck rapidly replacing the horse t
for heavy hauling, the present law is Z
of little value. We need an act reg b
ulating the maximum load which may o
be hauled over our bridges and high t
ways, and a specified width of tire for il
each thousand pounds of load These {
limits would vary for different types 1
Of surfacing, but all roads, from the a
highest type of pavement to the plain c
earth road, must be protected from d
d
The present law provides that all c
damage caused by stock, water or il
)ther sources of destruction. shall be n
'epaired at the expense of the party o
'esponsible for the damage. There is il
10 provision as to who shall do the
work, or who shall Judge whether or
lot the repairs are satisfactory. The N
aw should be amended so that all re-
,airs should be made under the sup +,
.rvision of state or county highway
II
Penalty for Reckless Driving.
While the state has no jurisdiction d
'ver city streets. it would be an ex- a.
i =,
-isory powers in regard to parking Ia
equations. A driver learns the pro- I.
Ter system for one city. Then ne gets {,
rrested for parking in the same fC
manner in an adjoining town No +
nan can be a aw-abiding citizen I'M x
er these circumstances and. after $:
ew disheartening experiences is IL -
ny wonder that he feels a contempt NJ
or all traffic laws?
Provisions should be made to pre-
ent anyone who has been COW icted .
f reckless driving, or of gross c are
sssness which endangered human
fe from operating any automo bile d.
Dr. a period of from one to twelve Sc
lonths. depending upon the grav ity ie
L the offense. Fines mean little or II
othing to many motorists and ew M
idges will impose a prison senten ce- a.
iven the alternative of driving pl %
erly. or not driving at all, the ave IT A
ge man will behave himself. T he q
Their fellow will be given a nice 10 ng -
acation in which to consider the eur Il,
'r of his ways. B
Law Should Require Signals. -
The system of signals specified i'm p.
he uniform vehicle law should be en- c,
,ted in our statutes. At present fe' v c.
rivers give any signal when they in 81
no 10 turn corner ahu ""e" u'' iGl
IL at the legal rate in many cities 5 Fl
icy do not have to slow down II
AXE the turn The pedestrian mUs st =.
mp or be hit, yet the driver ma l..