Salt Lake Tribune | 1918-02-03 | Page 35 | Mushroomic Growth of Auto Road Laws

UDOIVIIC GROWTH OF AUTO ROAD LIS New Provisions Usually Handed Down With Coming Com-ing of New Year. Lau mailers all over the la nil. and that moans several thousand at the least, seemingly are laying awas.e nizhts to thins up new "ami drastic road regulations to put over f.n tbe auto owcer. They are not satisfied with making him i-ay a hands'ifie sun to the state to drive" around, but needs must hamper him with numerous provisions pro-visions and "sections" that tend to make the life of the average car owner one almost to be avoided. The tendency in many western states to promulgate a new "order nf things every season -is very, noticeable. ,lust as the auto fans feel that thev b.Rve met and surmounted the latest drive at their rights to travel over the mud-scarred mud-scarred face of the globe, a new and even more obnoxious edict is sent out, and they have to conform to things all over aaain. Perhaps the lawmakers don't know or appreciate that, the automobile has become a decided necessity in this fair Innd. Thev evidently don't know tb.tt the horse is fast disappearing from the field of commerce, and that even out on the farms he is destined to become obsolete and to be replaced bv trucks and tractors. The laws have "not vet become so drastic that the sensible motor car driver cannot get over the roads, but the tendency to' make a few new rules every year and to leave all the old laws in force, may soon make it very risky business. Out in California, a motorist will, after February 1. be liable to arrest and to having his license revoked if he hnppens to sally, forth without a new-j f angled certificate displayed near the' driver V scat. Other provisions of the law are aimed at intoxicated drivers, complicity in accidents and negligence or disobedience of auy road law. "dt is getting rather hard for the average driver to think of ail these laws and at the same time handle his car like a good driver should the task on the "think tank" is becoming too severe. Perhaps when it dawns on a few makers of road laws that the auto is America's greatest product carrier of the nation's burden the new and everlasting wonder that has 'revolutionized 'revolution-ized all modes tf living, brought town and country together, help develop business of every nature, that aids education, edu-cation, encourages travel, makes for the i.leal vacation and health and pleasure of all the people, fits in evervwhere, is beneficial and useful always and is helping to win the war then thev may eonsider the auto was built for the roads aud that roads are built for autos.