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The Autocar No. 423. Vol. XI. Saturday, November 28th, 1903. The Size of the Numbers When the new Motor Car Act, which comes into force on January 1st next, was passed, many points of vital concern were left to the Local Government Board to dealw ith by means of regulations which they were empowered to make. We need hardly say that the chief features of the Act were the increase of the speed limit from twelve to twenty miles an hour, the imposition of registered numbers, and licenses for driving. In another column to-day we publish a synopsis of the regulations, and it will be seen that the size of the district index letters and the numbers has been very considerably reduced from those originally proposed. Not only so, but the one or two index letters and the car number can be placed in a row if desired, so that a long narrow plate may be employed instead of one more nearly square. This will be a great convenience in many instances, particularly for the front number. Only the back number need be illuminated at night, and so long as it is plainly illuminated, it is left to the automobilist to adopt such means as he sees fit to secure that end. The regulations now issued deal only with the registration, numbering and the driving licences, though in the memorandum which accompanies them, sent to County and County Borough Councils, in which the Act and regulations are expounded for the benefit of those who will administer them, other matters are referred to.
The Autocar - Saturday, November 28th, 1903. Under the Light Locomotives Act of 1896 certain general regulations as to the use and construction of light locomotives, and the conditions under which they may be used were issued on the 9th day of November, 1896. The Local Government Board now state that, as the result of the passing of the Motor Car Act, 1903, and of the experience gained since 1896, some of the regulations contained in the Order of November 9th, 1896, need amendment; and, in consequence, the Local Government Board will issue an order rescinding these and prescribe others. It may be mentioned that the term motor cycle is not defined in the Act, and the Local Government Board have no authority to define it, but they understand that, though the term might sometimes properly apply to other vehicles, it would be generally treated as limited to motor cars designed to travel on not more than three wheels, and weighing, unladen, not more than three hundredweights. The Board contemplate that Councils will usually assign consecutive numbers to cars registered with them. They think, however, that for purposes of ready identification it is not desirable that numbers consisting of more than three figures should be assigned, and they will be prepared, if desired, to assign a fresh index mark to any Council who may require to start a fresh series of numbers under a new mark. The (Licensing and Registration) Order now issued consists of twenty-two articles, and they are considerably modified from the draft of the Order which the Local Government Board recently sent out to certain of the automobile associations. The important point about the regulations is that motor cars must carry a number "for and aft", to use a nautical phrase. Only the number carried at the rear of the car requires lighting at night. |
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