Traffic safety in the 19th century

Before 1900, there weren’t any traffic laws in regular use pertaining to automobiles other than certain regulations for the use of horse-drawn wagons and locomotives. The rise of the automobile changed all that. In 1900, there were fewer than 10,000 cars in the entire world. By 1910, there were over 130,000 cars, 35,000 trucks, and 150,000 motorcycles in the United States alone. In the first decade of the 20th century, laws and regulations were minimal and highly localized.  Local governments attempted to develop signage and laws to deal with this massive increase in the use of mechanized vehicles. They most likely took advantage of the popular book, “Rules of the Road,” written by William P. Eno in 1903.

“Eno, “the father of traffic safety,” introduced many road regulations, such as the need for slow traffic to remain to the right and cars to pass only on the left, as well as one-way streets, crosswalks for pedestrians, stop signs and safety islands. He believed that stoplights would never work and police would always be necessary at intersections.”

“The mandatory registration of automobiles was one of the first traffic regulations in the United States. New York became the role model in 1901 by being the first state to require that automobile owners register their vehicles. By 1920, license plates were mandatory in all states. It took longer for the states to require a driver’s license. In 1935, there were just 39 states that issued the licenses and only a few tested applicants. Before the 1930s, most drivers received their training from automobile salesmen, nonprofit organizations such as the YMCA, family members and friends. Soon, however, driver’s education was provided in the high schools.”

Check Speeding in Woodstock. July 20, 1912.

After the accident at Lincoln Corners, Frank Dana directs traffic at the Village Square in 1914. It is unclear whether he was hired by the village trustees or not.

Two new danger signs were also placed at the curve at Lincoln Corners.

Improved traffic regulation. The Vermont Standard, September 19, 1918

The Village Trustees of Woodstock established traffic regulations in 1919 (that when beyond the Vermont Statutes of speeding) and ensured that these laws were followed by hiring a traffic cop in 1920. The following are the traffic regulations for 1919:

Article VI.

Sec. 32. No person shall drive or pass with a horse, wagon, team, motor vehicle, handcart, velocipede or bicycle upon any sidewalk, except to cross the same; nor shall any person permit his horse, wagon, team, motor vehicle or carriage to be stopped or hitched so that any portion of the same shall be upon any sidewalk or street crossing. Any person violating any of the above provisions shall forfeit and pay the sum of two dollars, with the costs of prosecution.

Prohibiting the leaving of any automobile more than three feet from the street side of any side walk in the business section of the Village (Business section to include from Savings Bank to the east side of High St. and from Savings Bank to the north side of the Standard block).

Prohibiting the driving or stopping a vehicle on the left hand side of the road on any street in the Village limits.

Prohibiting: Driving a motor faster than ten (10) miles an hour.

Prohibiting: Backing a motor vehicle more than twenty-five feet.

Prohibiting: Parking a motor vehicle at any place where horses can be hitched in the Business section of the Village. (Business section the same as before named.)

Prohibiting: Operating or leaving vehicles on wheels, stationary or in motion on any street in the Village without a light so attached as to be visible from the front and rear during the period from 45 minutes after sunset to 45 minutes before sunrise.

The by-law not to apply to any vehicle designated to be propelled by hand or to any vehicle when engaged in transporting hay or straw.

A penalty for breach of any of these by-laws of not less then $2,00 nor more than $50.00.

That the Village pass an ordinance that there shall be a penalty of ten (10) dollars for the opening of cutout on an automobile in the Village limits.

In addition to the fore-going by-laws, the Vermont Statutes regulating motor vehicles will be strictly enforced.

Above extracts are printed by order of the Trustees of the Village of Woodstock.

Before the days of traffic laws. Elm Street. circa 1910.

The first serious automobile accident occurred in 1914.

Two vehicles collided on the Bridgewater road at Lincoln Corners.

Early on in regulation, the Village Trustees of Woodstock hired a series of people to act as traffic cop in the Village Square to enforce the traffic rules. The first mention of a traffic cop in The Vermont Standard was in 1920.

Traffic cop. June 9, 1921

Traffic cop in 1923.

The light post and signage in the middle of the Village Square came to be known as “The Dummy.” Even with the way finding signage, a police presence is ever needed. This confirms what Eno had said in 1903 that police would always be necessary at intersections.

Police car on the corner of Central and Elm Streets

There has always been a police presence at this location ever since the establishment of traffic rules in the village in 1919.