By the 1860s, there was also concern that the widespread use of traction engines, such as road locomotives and agricultural engines, would endanger the safety of the public. It was believed that engines and their trailers might cause fatal accidents, scare horses, block narrow lanes, and disturb the locals by operating at night.
The Highway Act 1835 and subsequent acts (Public Health Act 1875, Local Government Act 1888 and Local Government Act 1894) attempted to find satisfactory methods of maintaining roads since the UK Turnpike Trust system failed following the UK railway boom.
These new Locomotives, some up to 9 feet (2.7 m) wide and 14 tons, could also allegedly damage the highway while they were being propelled at "high speeds" of up to 10 miles per hour (16 km/h).[1] However, there is evidence that the steam carriages' better brakes (which did not lock and drag), their wide tyres, and the absence of horses' hooves striking the road allowed them to cause less damage to the roads than horse-drawn carriages.[2]
[edit]The Acts
[edit]Locomotive Act 1861
The Locomotives on Highways Act 1861:[3]
Limited the weight of vehicles to 12 tons (12 tonnes).
Imposed a speed limit of 10 mph (16 km/h) on open roads in town.
[edit]The Locomotive Act 1865 (Red Flag Act)
The Locomotive Act 1865 (Red Flag Act):[3]
Set speed limits of 4 mph (6 km/h) in the country and 2 mph (3 km/h) in towns.
Stipulated that self-propelled vehicles should be accompanied by a crew of three: the driver, a stoker and a man with a red flag walking 60 yards (55 m) ahead of each vehicle. The man with a red flag or lantern enforced a walking pace, and warned horse riders and horse drawn traffic of the approach of a self propelled machine.
[edit]Highways and Locomotives (Amendment) Act 1878
With the highways and Locomotives (Amendment) Act 1878:[3]
Made the red flag optional under local regulation
The distance ahead of the still necessary pedestrian crew member was reduced to 20 yards (18 m).
Vehicles were required to stop on the sight of a horse.
Vehicles were forbidden from emitting smoke or steam to prevent horses being alarmed.[4]
[edit]Locomotives on Highways Act 1896
Main article: Locomotives on Highways Act 1896
Many of the restrictions were subsequently removed by the Locomotives on Highways Act 1896.[3]
[edit]References
^ "Parliamentary Intelligence. House Of Commons". The Times. 1865-04-27.
^ Benson, Bruce L.. "The Rise and Fall of Non-Government Roads in the United Kingdom". Street Smart: Competition, Entrepreneurship and the Future of Roads. pp. 263–264.
^ a b c d "The First Motor Offender". British History. Retrieved 2010-02-26.
^ "MVRUS - Legislation: A summary of important legislation". UK Department of the Environment.
[edit]External links
Locomotives Act, 1861 Pratt's Law of Highways Edition 10, Shaw & Sons (1865) p. 388