Laws and Regulations

Warning Signals and Lamps.

Every motor vehicle must carry some instrument by which the driver can give audible warn ing of approach; but such warning may not be given in "built-up" areas between the hours of 11.3o p.m. and 7.o a.m.

By the Road Transport Lighting Act 1927, which came into operation on April 22, 1928 the lighting requirements prescribed are two lamps showing a white light to the front and one lamp showing a red light to the rear. Motor bicycles are also required to carry a white front light and a red rear one and pedal bicycles and tricycles a white light in front and either a red lamp or red reflector behind.

The hours of darkness or periods during which vehicles must be lighted are defined as being the time between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise in "summer time" and, for the remainder of the year, the time between half-an-hour after sunset and half-an-hour before sunrise.

Speed and Noise.

Until 1930 a general speed limit of 20 miles per hour was imposed on all motor vehicles. The regulation (1935) with regard to speed is that there is no general speed limit ; but a limit of 3o miles per hour is imposed in "built-up" areas, i.e., areas which have a system of street lighting places at intervals not exceeding 200 yards, or any area specially restricted by the minister of transport. These areas are marked with notice boards. The minister may also de-restrict areas.

The driver of a motor car must not wilfully disregard the direction of a police constable in uniform, to stop, or to proceed, or to keep a particular line of traffic. This is the general law under the Public Health Act 1925 (Section 74).

A motor car must have two independent brakes in good working order, so that the application of either shall cause two of its wheels on the same axle to be prevented from revolving. In cars with less than four wheels, "two wheels" means "one wheel." A motor car must be so constructed that when stationary, the action of the machinery may be stopped so far as is necessary to prevent noise. Further, a car must be so constructed that it will not make sufficient noise to cause a nuisance when passing along the highway. By the Cut-out Order 1912, it is forbidden

that any motor car or motor cycle shall be permitted to use a cut-out or any other device which will allow the exhaust gases from the engine to escape into the atmosphere without first passing through a silencer or expansion chamber, suitable and sufficient to reduce the noise which would otherwise be caused as far as may reasonably be practicable.

Insurance and Accidents.

The law now requires all vehicles to be covered for third party risks, and the insurance certificate must be produced on demand in the same way as the driving licence. It should be remembered that the owner of a car, giving a lift to a friend, is liable for any injury which his friend may sustain, owing to his careless driving. The insurance policy should cover this risk.

As was to be expected, the advent and rapid increase of motor traffic, has led to a very large increase in the number of road accidents. The measures which are being taken to reduce the number include systematic road improvements (widening, straightening out or easing of dangerous bends and so on), the education of both pedestrians and drivers on "Safety First" lines by the National Safety First Council and, in addition, continued improvement in the control mechanism of vehicles. "Pedestrian Crossings" have lately been introduced, on which, unless con trolled by traffic lights or a policeman, the pedestrian has ab solute right of way.

The table on p. 9o8 gives the statistics of all recorded road accidents in Great Britain from 1925 to 1934.

It is evident that the education not only of the motor vehicle driver but also of the pedestrian in the principles of "Safety First" must proceed much farther if a really substantial and satisfactory reduction in the number of accidents is to be ef fected. (M. OF B.) A general impression of the present status of motoring in the United States may be obtained from the chart of motor vehicles registered in the U.S.A. since 1900. About 71% of the world's total vehicles are owned in that country. The inference is that there is one vehicle for every six persons in the United States.