Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1921-06-28
NEW ROAD LAW CONTAINS
MANY PROVISIONS.


The new state road law. comprehensive
and yoluminoas measure. contains many
provisions of direct and special interest to
any one who drives vehicle of any kind,
and it is probable that few. if any of the
drivers are familiar with its provis ions. For
instance, thee is this paragraph: Every
horse drawn vehicle when at night on any
road IN this state. shall display light Wis
ible from every direction for at least two
hundred feet Did any one ever see this
requirement practiced?
The limits designed for speed for various
vehicles under the new law are as follows:
For vehicles designed for carrying not
more than seven passengers and weighing
not more than 5000 ppounds with load. s5
miles on open country roads, 20 miles on
suburban streets, and 15 miles urban
streets: for other vehicles equipped pounds
with load Is miles on open country high
ways, 20 miles suburban streets, and Is
miles on urban streets. for vehicles with
solid tires, weighing not more than 1000
pounds with load 20 miles on open country
highways, Is miles suburban streets and
10 miles on urban streets for vehicles with
solid tires weighing more than 1000 pounds.
10 miies on any road or street All steel
tired vehicles weighing over 1000 pounds
with load, five miles,
Tight Spots In Law.
General traffic regulations in the new law
include the following:
sec. Sc. Every person operating vehicle
upon any highway in this state shall observe
tie following traffic rules and regulations
ta) All vehicles not in motion shall be
placed with their sides near the right
hand side of the highway as practicable, ex-
cept on city streets where traffic is obliged
to move in direction only.
(b) Slow moving vehicles shall at all
times be operated close to the right hand
side of the highway as practicable.
tc) An operator meeting another vehicle
coming from the opposite direction the
same highway shall turn to the right of the
center of the highway so as to pass without
interference
4 Id An operator in rounding curves shall
keep his vehicle far to the right the
highway reasonably possible.
/ Passing Regulations.
tcD An operator of vehicle overtaking
another vehicle going in the same direction
and desiring to pass the same shall pass to
the left of the vehicleovertaken, provided
that the way ahead is clear of approaching
traffic, but ii the way is not clear he shall
not pass unless the width of the roadway is
sufficient to allow his vehicle to pass to the
right of the center thereof in the direction
in which his vehicle is moving: provided
that no operator shall pass a vehicle from
the rear at the top of hill on a curve
where the view ahead is any way obscured
or while the vehicle is crossing an intersec-
ting highway. An operator overtakng and
1 desiring to pass vehicle shall blow his horn
or sound his signal and the operator of the
vehicle SO overtaken shall promptly, and up
on such signal turn his vehicle as far as
reasonably possible to the right in order to
allow free passage on the left of his vehicle.
VI An operator intending TO turn MS
vehicle to the left shall extend his arm in a
1 horizontal position and slow down.
| tgl An operator intending to turn his
vehicle to the right shall extend his arm
slow down.
(h) An operator intending to stop his
vehicle shall extend his and move it up
and down in vertical direction.
/ ID An operator of a vehicle shall have
the right of way over the operator of an
other vehicle who is approaching from the
left in an intersecting highway, and shall
give the right of way TO an operator of
vehicle approaching from the right on an in
| teTsecting highway.
| Cd An operator OF Chauffeur of vehicle
shall bring the same to full stop not less
than five feet from any street car which has
stopped or is about to stop to receive dis
charge passengers and shall remain stand
ing until such car has taken discharg-
/ ed said passengers; provided however, that
! said operator chauffeur may pass such
street car where safety zone is establis H.
ed by the proper authorities; provided fur
, ther, that said operator or Chauffeur if he
slows down and proceeds cautiously may
pass such street car at a distance. of at
least eight feet therefrom when outside the
limits OF any incorporated town city. Any
person driving or operating a motor vehicle
in violation of this paragraph shall be guilty
of misdemeanor and upon conviction there
of shall be punished with fine of not less
than twenty-five nor more than one hundred
dollars, or imprisoned in the county jail not
/ less than one nor more than six months, or
both, at the discretion of the court or jus tice
| trying the case.
(kl Upon approaching any person walk
ing in the travelled portion of any public
highway or horse any animal being led,
ridedn or driven thereon, or a crossing of
intersecting public highways, bridge or
sharp turn or curve, or a deep descent,
and also in passing such person or such
| horse or other animal. and in traversng
such crossing, bridge, turn. curve descent
person operating motor vehicle or motor
cycle shall have the undar nd
shall reduce its speed to a reasonable and
proper rate. If such horse, or other animal
| being so led, ridden or driven shall appear
to be frightened, or if the person in charge
| thereof, shall signal so to do by raising his
or her hand vertically, the person operating
/ such motor vehicle motorcycle shall bring
the same to stop, and if travelling in the
opposite direction, shall remain stationery
as long as may be reasonable to allow such
| horse or other animal to pass, or if travel
ing in the same direction shall use reason
able caution in thereafter passing such
horse or animal. but person shall give
such signal to stop unless necessary.
/ Cut-Out Rule.
] I'd An operator shall not use the cut-out
Of motor vehicle while on any highway in
this state.
(m) An operator of a motor vehicle or
tractor shall sound his horn or other signal
ing device when approaching points on the
| highways, where the view ahead is not clear
or where the view of the side of an inters &C.
ting highway is INSTRUCTED, provided that in
no case shall such horn signaling device
be used for the purpose of making any
unnecessary noise
tn) Whenever there is not sufficient light
to render clearly dscernable substantial
object on the highway at distance of two
hundred feet ahead. the operator of a We
hicle shall light and keep lighted all the
lamps with which, under the provisions of
this act, said vehicle must be equipped pro-
vlded. that in the vent OF a bona fde failure
of one more lights the operator may pro-
I'D ftlrt hnr ko
sounds his horn or other signaling device
once in every four hundred feet and proceeds
AT rate of speed not greater than ten
miles per hour to the nearest place where
he can put his lamps in order. spot light.
used on vehicle having left hail drive
shall be placed on the eft hail side of such
vehicle, and the rays of su-h spot lights
shall not be thrown to the left of the center
of tic vehicle Tor thar on, Hundred
feet in alNaace thereof. whit, the vehicle is
IN motion. y spotlight used III vehicle
haV NJ a right hand drive shall b, pla.ed
on the right hsnd side of such vehicle ard
the rays OF such spotlight shi'i q: all tin es
he on tie rieht of the center inc of the car.
No persons hall turn off any of the lights
of vehicle Cor the purpose of avoiding ar
rest IF Identification.
Light On Poles.
to) All vehicles carrying poles or other
objects which project more than five feet
from the rear, shall, during the period of
from one-half hour after sunset to one-half
near the rea rend of the pole or other object
so projecting. During the period of one
half hour after sunset vehicles shall carry
a red flag as danger signal at or near the
rear end of the pole or other object SO pro-
jecting.
tp) Any person who shall be found
guilty of violating any of the provisions of
this section unless otherwise provided. shall
be deemed guilty of misdemeanor and up
on conviction thereof shall be punished with
a fine of rot less than ten dollars, nor more
than hundred dollars
Sec 81 In case of accident the ope-
rator of vehicle shall stop Immediately 4,
and upon request, give his name, address
and the number of his oprator's licnse and
render such assistance as may be reasonable
or necessary; provided that in all cases of
accident resulting in injury to any person
the operator shall Immediately report the
details of the same to the commission ANY
person violating any of the provisions of
this section shall be deemed guilty of mis- |
demeanor and shall be punished with fine
OF not less than twenty-five dollars, nor