Travel Upon Highways 179 



other mechanical power have, by recent amend- 

 ments to the statutes, been given full rights to 

 the highways, although what are known as trac- 

 tion engines and all other vehicles or engines 

 propelled by steam which develop twenty -five 

 horse -power or more may not legally use the 

 highways unless preceded for an eighth of a mile 

 by some competent person, to give warning of 

 their approach. 



Notwithstanding the right to use a motor vehi- 

 cle upon the highway, it is the undoubted duty 

 of the driver to so use it as not to restrict or 

 endanger its use by the public; as, for instance, 

 he should stop or slow up when approaching a 

 frightened team, and not exceed the legal rate 

 of speed, and in all things conform to the "law 

 of the road." 



In New York the statute requires an automo- 

 bile to stop upon the signal of an uplifted hand 

 from the driver or rider of a restive horse, or 

 the driver of stock, and wait until it has been 

 passed. 



It is the duty of the town officials to maintain 

 a good and passable highway, with bridges of 

 sufficient strength to carry all ordinary travel. 

 In some states the carrying strength of such 

 bridges is fixed by law. In New York the 

 statute fixes the carrying capacity at four tons, 

 and a person going upon a highway bridge with 



