LIGHTS ON VEHICLES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 64, 21 July 1913, Page 4

LIGHTS ON VEHICLES.

This suhjeci has been promiuently' before Stratford residents for somej time past, as many know to their cost, and a lew excerpts from a Bill, of which Mr 1). l3uddo is the father and which will shortly be brought before Parliament, will be read with interest. It. states, inter alia, that every person who causes or permits any vehicle to bo in any public highway (luring the period between hall' an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise shall provide that vehicle with a lamp or lamps in proper working-order, and so constructed j and capable of being so attached as when lighted to display to the front and rear a light visible for a reasonable distance, and so that the light to the front shall be a white light. If only one lamp is so provided it shall be placed on the off or right side of the vehicle. Every person who offends against any of the provisions of this section is liable to a line ol one pound, and in the case of a second or subsequent conviction to a fine of three pounds. It is provided that if a. person driving or being in charge of a vehicle is charged with an offence under this section he shall not be convicted thereof if he proves to the satisfaction of the Court that he was placed in charge of the vehicle at a time or place when or where it was impossible to procure a lamp or lamps, and that he had no subsequent opportunity of procuring such lamp or lamps, or that the offence arose through the neglect or default of some other person whoso duty it was tn provide the vehicle with a lamp or lamps. A local authority may make | by-laws providing for the exemption from the operation of the Act of any vehicle while engaged in carrying any inflammable goods of a kind specified in the by-law. The Act will apply to every kind of vehicle except (a) Any motor within the meaning of the Motor Regulation Act, 1908; (b) Any traction-engine within the meaning of section four of the Police Offences Act, 1908; and (c) Any vehicle drawn or propelled by hand. The Act will apply to any machine or implement of any kind drawn or propelled by animal or mechanical traction in the same manner as it applies to vehicles. Tn the Case of a bicycle, tricycle, or other similar machine where only one lamp is provided, the provisions of the Act as to th'o position of the lamp shall not apply. Should the Bill be passed into law,' the Act will come ,into force on ; the' first' of March,' .1914., i