Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-07-15

Montana's new accident report
ing law which became effective
July / is designed to further de-
crease the states highway death
toll, aid in accident prevention
work, eliminate prevailing road
hazards and to generally improve
the states highway safety record.
Under the uniform accident report
ing law, motorists are compelled 10
make written reports Of highway &C
cidents involving death or injury to
any person or total property damage
TO an apparent extent OF SIS or more.
When involved in such accidents, the
act provides that ~the driver Of any
vehicle shall Immediately stop at the
scene Of such accident or as close
thereto as possible and In every
event shall remain at the scene Of
the accident until he has fulfilled all
requirements under the law"
It further provides that in such ac-
cidents "the driver shall give his name.
address and the registration number
OF the vehicle he is driving and shall
upon request and II available exhibit
his operators or chauffeur's license to
the person struck or the driver or
occupant OF or person attending any
vehicle collided with and shall render
70 any person injured in accident
reasonable assistance. including the
carrying, or the making Of arrange
ments for the carrying Of such per-
son to a physician, surgeon or hospital
for medical or surgical treatment If
1t Is apparent that such treatment is
necessary or II such carrying Is re-
quested by the injured person"
The law provides that any person
falling 70 stop or TO comply with such
requirements under the circumstances
VIII be subject to a Jail sentence Of
from 30 days to one year and a fine
Of not less than 5000 nor more than
5000 or both. The motor vehicle reg
istrar also may revoke the operators
license Of any person convicted.
In cases where a driverless or I'M
attended vehicle Is struck, the driver
OF the machine colliding with such We
hicle should 'either locate and notify
the operator or owner Of such vehicle
Of the name and address Of the driver
and owner OF the vehicle striking the
unattended vehicle or shall leave In q
conspicuous place In the vehicle struck
a written notice giving the name and
address Of the driver and owner of
the vehicle doing the striking and a
statement Of the circumstances" Of the
collision.
When a permanent highway fixture
Is struck and damaged, It Is provided
that the driver shall take reasonable
steps 70 locate and notify the owner or
person IN charge Of such property and
70 furnish his name, address and reg
istratlon number and other pertinent
information. A report also Is required
IN such accident cases.
It Is provided in the act that a
driver involved IN an accident result /
ing In an injury or death to a person /
Is required TO Immediately. 'bv the
quickest means Of communication" re- |
port the accident to the local police /
department, II the accident occurs I
within municipality, or otherwise TO /
the nearest county sheriff or Office Of +
the state highway patrol supervisor. 1t I
Is also provided that In such eases in
volving traffic deaths, coroners and I
other officials should immediately no
visor.
When the accident involves personal
injury or death or property damage
exceeding SIS, drivers involved in COL
islons must make a written report Of
ne accident to the patrol supervisor
V1tnin "A hours after the misflap oc-
'urs. Inc supervisor may require drive