Evening star., 1939-06-28
British, Not Knowing
u. 5. Law, Speed at
90-Mi|e Clip
IS Cars of Motorcode
Stopped and Drivers
Told of Rules

After becoming acquainted under
the usual circumstances with
traffic policeman, that ubiquitous
individual more or less unpleasantly
known to all American motorists,
members of the British Junior Car
Club today embarked light-hearted-
ly on round of sightseeing in
Washington.
Their experience with the traffic
policemen occurred yesterday after
noon near Princeton, N. j., while
the party was en- route from New
York to Washington. A policeman
stopped Is of the 10 automobiles in
the motorcade bowling along at a
nice rate of 80 to 80 miles an hour.
The officers didn't stop the three
others-they couldn't catch them.
One was reported to have topped
96 miles an hour and the others
were right behind the leader.
The whole affair ended more
pleasantly than it otherwise would
have if members of the party had
not been able to convince the traffic
officer they were laboring under a
great Misrepresentation concerning
the speed laws in this country.
Detailed information on that was
left out of otherwise minute in.
structions, which, among other
things, told them to Keep we'll to
the right of the road-Americans
have little patience with crown
strollers.' Or such as Changing
lines without careful signaling is
unpopular both with police and
other motorists and IF you pull up
outside a town get the car right off
the road-police are hot on this"
No Limit in England.
But there was no word about
speed. AS H. J. Morgan, secretary
OF the club, explained, none of the
party was aware that highways is
this country are "controlled' In
England, it was pointed out. the only
established speed limit is 80 miles
an hour in congested areas. Out
sIde-well, it's as fast as one can and
cares to travel
Adding to this misapprehension
was the party's reception in New
York. There, in the most congested
area the motorists ever saw. the
party was escorted by motor cycle
policemen through the Holland Tube
and around the city at so miles an
hour, with fine disregard also for
such motoring hindrances as traffic
lights.
With such arguments as these,
conveyed with convincing British
rhetoric and logic, the party was
able to get off without ticket.
Showing some of that interna-
tional courtesy for which the Amer
ican Automobile Association is just
ly famous, group of A. A. A. Off
Gals journey out to Cottage City,
Nd, to shepherd the Britishers into
the Capital. They managed to stop
the first two or three members of
the motorcade and enlisted their
services in picking the other cars out
OF the stream of traffic.
Cars Easily Spotted.
Not that such aid was entirely
necessary. Most any one could have
spotted the foreign makes of cars
Humber, Mercedes Benz, Frazier
Nash, Rover, Manchester, Brough,
Lagona, Wolseley, Lammas Graham,
etc.-as they came along, all, of
course, with the steering gear on the
right side.
AS the cars arrived they were dis
patched under escort to the Shore
ham Hotel, headquarters of the
party during its two-day visit in
the Nations Capital. There the
visitors wandered into the cocktail
lounge to sample such long drinks
as planters punch, mint julep, gin
rickey and New Orleans fizz, all rec
commended on those same detailed
instructions. All were unanimous in
favoring their traditional Scotch
and soda.
The party arrived in New York
last Saturday on the maiden Allan
tic crossing of the Mauretania. Gra-
ham E. Lyon. managing director of
the Autocheques, heads the party,
which will make 2,000-mile tour of
Eastern United States and Canada.