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The Times

1st January 1904.

The Locomotives on Highways Act, 1896, defines a "light locomotive" as:-
"Any vehicle propelled by mechanical power if it us under three tons in weight unladen, and is not used for the purpose of drawing more than one vehicle (such vehicle with its locomotive not to exceed in weight unladen four tons) and is so constructed that no smoke or visible vapour is emitted therefrom except from any temporary or accidental cause."

The Motor-Car Act [U.K.], which comes into operation to-day, and is limited to expire on December 31, 1906, gives to "motor-car" the same meaning as that of "fight locomotive" in the above enactment, except that (1) for the purpose of new registration provisions "motor-car" is not to include a vehicle drawn by a motor-car, and (2) the weights mentioned therein may be increased as respects any class of vehicle by Local Government Board regulations.

The reckless, negligent, or too rapid driving (at what-ever speed) on a public highway or roadway to which the public are granted access is an offence under the Act, and any police-constable may apprehend without warrant a driver who has offended within his view if he refuses to give his name and address or produce the licence required by the Act, or if the car cannot be identified under the Act. Every car must be registered with the council of a county or county borough with a separate number and mark indicating it fixed on the car or vehicle drawn by it or both, and on payment of a fee of 5s. each for motor-cycles and 20s. each for other cars. Manufacturers and dealers may obtain general identification marks for use on trial. As to licenses, it is enacted that:-

"A person shall not drive a motor-car on a public highway (or roadway to which the public are granted access) unless he is licensed for that purpose, and a person shall not employ any person who is not so licensed to drive a motor-car.

"The council of a county or county borough shall grant a license to drive a motor-car to any person applying for it who resides in that county or county borough on payment of a fee of 5s. unless the applicant is disqualified under the provisions of this Act."

The only absolute disqualifications are - (1) being under 17 years of age, for driving motor cycles only, of 14 years or under; and (2) already holding a licence still in force. But a person convicted of an offence under the Act or of any offence in connection with the driving of a motor-car (other than a first or second offence consisting solely of exceeding any limit of speed fixed under the Act) may be declared to be disqualified by the Court before whom (sic) he is convicted for a period limited only by the discretion of that Court. The fine for any offence under the Act may be up to £20, or in the case of a second or subsequent conviction up to £50, with the alternative of imprisonment up to three months, but there will be an appeal to quarter sessions against (1) imprisonment, (2) any fine above 20s., and (3) any order of disqualification.

The enforcement of the maximum speed of 14 miles an hour under the Act of 1896 (as reduced by Local Government Board regulations under that Act to 12 miles an hour) is replaced by the enactment that:-

"A person shall not, under any circumstances, drive a motor car on a public highway or roadway to which the public are granted access at a speed exceeding 20 miles an hour, and within any limits or place referred to in regulations made by the Local Government Board with a view to the safety of the public, on the application of the local authority of the area in which the limits or place are situate, a person shall not drive a motor-car at a speed exceeding 10 miles an hour."

Contravention of this enactment is punishable by a fine up to £10 for a first offence, £20 for a second, and £50 for any subsequent offnce; but there can be no conviction merely on the opinion of one witness, nor unless the offender was warned of an intended prosecution at the time of the offence, or unless notice of it was sent to him or to the registered owner of the car within reasonable time after the commission of it. The Local Government Board may also prohibit or restrict the driving of any motor-car on any highway which does not exceed 16 feet in width "or on which ordinary motor-car traffic woud be in their opinion to be especially dangerous." Local authorities are to give public notice of any such prohibitions or restrictions or limitations of speed, and also, subject to regulation as to size and colour to be made by the Board, to set up sign-posts denoting dangerous corners, cross-roads and precipitous places. In case of accident to any person or to a horse or vehicle in charge of any person owing to the presence of a motor-car on a road, the driver is directed to stop and give his and the owner's name, if required, on pain of a fine up to £10 for a first offence, £20 for a second, and £20 or imprisonment up to one month for any subsequent offence. All common law and statutory liabilities of owners are expressly left unaffected - a very extensive saving, in view of the wide civil liability for negligence and of the direction of the Act of 1896 that a motor-car, or "light locomotive" as it is there called, is to be deemed a "carriage" within the meaning of any Act whatever - and both the Act of 1896 and the new Act are declared to apply to persons in the public service of the Crown.