Page:Motors and motor-driving (1902).djvu/428

382 owner and anyone who may be driving him against injury or death.

There are other liabilities to which motor owners are subject in the same way as are all users of the highway. For instance, a child may be run over and injured. The law applicable to such accidents in the case of motor carriages is no different from that which applies to all other carnages that is to say, the owner is liable both when driving himself and in any case in which his servant is driving on his master's service, but only when the accident is caused by an improper or negligent use of the highway, and when the injured party is not himself guilty of negligence which causes the accident. Against the above and other liabilities it would be well for owners to insure; a list of the best offices can be obtained by communicating with the Secretary of the Automobile Club.

Passing another vehicle on the wrong side is always a dangerous proceeding, as if an accident occur the fact may weigh heavily against the motorist. It is better to use patience and insist on the driver of the other vehicle pulling in to his proper side.

It is perhaps poor comfort to the tourist to know that hecan if he like to wait long enough in the neighbourhood, summon any person who wilfully obstructs the highway, but a threat of issuing a summons might have some effect upon a carter in a country road who refuses to allow room for a car to pass.

As the writer stated at the beginning of this chapter, efforts are being made by the Automobile Club to secure an alteration of the law, and it may be as well to state some of the proposed changes. It is first of all suggested that there should be no limit of speed mentioned in the principal act, and that the reference thereto should be deleted. All rules as to rates of speed, it is proposed, should be left in the hands of the Local Government Board.

For the statutory rules and orders it is proposed to substitute the following:—