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The Times

Monday 30 November, 1903.

Motor Car Regulations.

The Highways Committee of the London County Council, to whom the question of dealing with the Motor-Car Act 1903, was delegated by the Council, report that the Local Government Board has now issued its regulations under the Act, together with a circular letter explaining them, and state that they have been given careful consideration to the course to be adopted with regard to the administration of the Act.

The regulations prescribe the forms which are to be adopted in connection with the registration of motor-cars, and the licensing of drivers, and the committee have arranged for the necessary books and forms to be prepared at once, in order that there may be no delay in carrying out the provisions of the Act, which comes into force on January 1 next. The fees prescribed by the Act to be charged for registration are - for a motor-car £1, for a motor-cycle 5s., and the fee for a licence to drive either a motor-car or a motor-cycle is 5s. The Board's regulations prescribe the following as the fees to be charged under section 7 (2) of the Motor-Car Act for the registration of change of ownership of a motor-car or cycle - namely, 5s. in the case of a motor-car, and 1s. in the case of a motor-cycle.

The Council is also empowered to charge a fee of 1s. upon the issue of a new driver's licence in place of one lost or defaced. Under section 2 of the Act the Council is empowered, on payment of each annual fee not exceeding £3 as it may decide upon, to assign to a manufacturer or dealer whose business premises are situated in the county a general identification mark which may be used for any car on trial after completion or on trial by an intending purchaser. The committee express the opinion that in this case the maximum fee of £3 should be charged, and ask the Council generally to endorse that opinion by resolution.

The Act of 1903 requires that every motor-car shall be registered by the Council and have a separate number assigned to it, while a mark is to be affixed to each car with a view to facilitating identification. The Local Government Board regulations require that two identification marks, one in front and one behind the car, shall be carried, and for motor-cars two different forms of rectangular plates may be used.

It is provided, moreover, that plates need not be used, but that, should it be preferred, owners may employ designs, painted or other, subject to the requirements of the regulations in respect of the dimensions of the lettering, the colouring,&c., being complied with. Two identification marks have to be carried on motor-cycles, and, provided that the machines do not exceed 3cwt. in weight, various forms of identification plates may be used, and there is some latitude in regard to the position in which they may be carried, while the dimensions, where the vehicles do not exceed this weight, are to be half of those prescribed in the case of motor-cars. The Council may, if it thinks fit, supply to the owner of a car or cycle, should he so desire, the necessary identification plates, but the committee are of opinion that, in view of the various forms of identification marks permitted by the regulations, and also having regard to the fact that, although the registration numbers of motor-cars and cycles are to be consecutive, an entirely different form and size of plate is permitted in the two cases, it would be very undesirable, for the present at any rate, for the Council to supply the plates.

The Board in its regulations and in the circular accompanying them has dealth with the questions arising out of the registration of cars and cycles and the licensing of drivers, these being the most pressing points to be settled. There are certain other matters, however, arising under the Act of 1903 which will have to receive attention at a later date, when a better opportunity shall have been a fforded the Council of judging of the effect of the provisions of the Act upon motor-car traffic. The matters to which the committee here refer are dealt with particularly by sections 8, 9 and 10 of the Act relative to (1) the prohibition of motor-cars on special roads; (2) the limitation of the rate of speed; and (3) the erection of notice boards. With regard to the question of the limitation of speed, the committee point out that the Local Government Board is of opinion that the expedients provided by the Act for the reduction of the speed limit in certain districts to ten miles an hour, and for the prohibition of the use of motor vehicles in certain streets, should not be resorted to, unless it is seen that the other provisions of the Act make such a course indispensable. Having carefully considered this point, the committee state that they fully concur in the views expressed by the Board.

For the information and guidance of the public, the committee have arranged for the issue of an advertisement stating the date by which the Council will be prepared to register motor-cars and motor-cycles and to issue licences for drivers, and stating further that, owing to the various forms of identification marks allowed by the Board's regulations, the Council will not provide plates for use of owners. They state that they propose to submit, after the Council shall have had an opportunity of judging of the working of the Act, a further report, if necessary, dealing in detail with the various matters arising thereunder. It is, however, necessary for the Council at once to decide what fee shall be charged for the assignment of a general identification mark to a manufacturer or dealer, and as already stated, they are of opinion that this should be the maximum allowed by the Act. They add that the solicitor did not consider it necessary for drivers' licences to be issued under the seal of the Council, a course which would entail serious delay and inconvenience and they have accordingly arranged for these to be issued by the clerk of the Council.