ANEW Illinois Safety-Responsibil- 

 ity law to encourage safe and re- 

 sponsible motor vehicle operation 

 becomes effective Jan. 1, 1946. 



Because the provisions of this law 

 are of concern to every motorist of 

 the state, the lAA Record editors are 

 herewith printing the answers to a 

 number of questions dealing with the 

 new regulation. The questions and 

 answers were prepared by the Commit- 

 tee on Highway Safety to be used in 

 a booklet that will be given wide dis- 

 tribution during October throughout 

 the state. 



It is recommended that readers pass 

 on these questions and answers to their 

 neighbors. 



Concerned over the rapid increase 

 in highway accidents in Illinois since 

 the end of wartime driving restrictions, 

 Governor Dwight H. Green has pro- 

 claimed the week of October 1 to 7 

 as "Mobilization for Highway Safety 

 Week in Illinois." 



The text of the Governor's procla- 

 mation follows: 



"Whereas the end of wartime re- 

 strictions on driving has resulted in a 

 serious increase in highway accidents 

 in Illinois, endangering the lives of our 

 people, and 



"Whereas war-worn automobiles and 

 tires must continue to be used in the 

 current emergency, necessitating the 

 utmost care by drivers and the public: 



"Now, therefore, I, Dwight H. Green, 

 Governor of Illinois, hereby designate 

 the week of October 1 to 7 as Mobil- 

 ization for Highway Safety Week in 

 Illinois, and I urge all public officials, 

 the press and the motoring public to 

 co-operate in a program to promote 

 proper inspection of equipment, the 

 proper release of tires unable to pass 

 inspection, the immediate repair of 

 highways and highway lighting, and 

 the provision of full information to 

 the public concerning the new Motor- 

 ists' Safety Responsibility Law which 

 takes effect January 1, next." 



If the death toll on the highways is 

 to be held to a minimum, motorists 

 will not only need to cooperate in the 

 observance of the special safety week, 

 but every week of the year. 



As a first step in achieving greater 

 highway safety, motorists can study 



the questions and answers printed be- 

 low so as to become acquainted with 

 the new state law. 



1) Q. What is the new Safety-Responsi- 

 bility Law.' 



A. It is a new state law enacted to protect 

 the public on Illinois highways by removing 

 irresponsible drivers and thus to provide 

 compensation for the innocent victims of 

 highway accidents. 



2) Q. Why was the new Safety-Responsi- 

 bility Law adopted.' 



A. For many years past the automobile 

 accident problem has been growing more 

 serious and many solutions for it have been 

 studied and considered. Tx> help in this 

 problem, this new law was passed without 

 a dissenting vote by the last Illinois legis- 

 lature. 



It is intended that this law should en- 

 courage motorists to be careful and responsi- 

 ble, increasing safety on the highways and 

 providing for the protection of automobile 

 accident victims. 



3) Q. What is meant when reference is 

 made to a "responsible motorist"? 



A. Under the law a "responsible motorist" 

 is one who is able to post cash or other 

 security to guarantee the payment of dam- 

 ages for which he may be legally liable as 

 a result of an automobile accident, or who 

 is covered by adequate insurance. 



4) Q. What does this new law require me 

 to do if I am involved in an automobile ac- 

 cident.' 



A. The first thing you must do is to send 

 a report of the accident to the Department 

 of Public Works and Buildings, Springfield, 

 Illinois, if more than $50 damage was done 

 to either your car or to other property, or 

 if anyone was injured or killed. 



5) Q. When must I make this report? 

 A. If anyone was injured or killed you 



must make the report within twenty-four 

 (24) hours. If only property was damaged 

 you must make the report within ten (10) 

 days. 



6) Q. Must I make a report to the Secre- 

 tary of State? 



A. No. The report is to be sent to the 

 Department of Public Works and Buildings 

 at Springfield. 



7) Q. Must I make the report if the ac- 

 cident was not my fault? 



A. Yes. The law requires every driver 

 involved in the accident to make a report 

 regardless of who was to blame. 



8) Q. Where can I get the report form? 

 A. The Department of Public Works and 



Buildings will make these forms available 

 without charge throughout the state in pub- 

 lic offices and private concerns dealing with 

 the motoring public. 



9) Q. Suppose someone else was driving 

 my car, must I still make the report? 



A. Yes, if the driver cannot make a re- 

 port. You must also make a report if the 

 Department of Public Works and Buildings 

 asks you to do so, even though the driver 

 has made this report. 



10) Q. What happens after I file my re- 

 port? 



A. The Department of Public Works and 

 Buildings examines all of the reports deal- 

 ing with the accident to determine whether 

 you must establish your "ability to pay" or 

 whether you are exempt under the law from 

 further requirements. The Department of 

 Public Works and Buildings does not de- 

 termine who was at fault tor the accident. 

 That finding is to be made only by the 

 courts when a lawsuit is brought. 



11) Q. Suppose I am not exempt from 

 further requirements after fifing my accident 

 report? 



A. If you are not exempt you will be re- 

 quired to establish your "ability to pay" the 

 claims which other parties may make against 

 you. It is not necessary to actually pay these 

 claims until the court has found that you 

 were at fault. You must, however, show 

 that you are able to pay such claims because 

 it is possible that a court may find that you 

 are liable for the accident. 



12) Q. How may I meet the requirement 

 to show my "ability to pay"? 



A. Under the new state law you may 

 establish your "ability to pay" by depositing 

 cash or other security, satisfactory to the 

 Secretary of State, available to pay judg- 

 ments which other parties may obtain 

 against you growing out of the accident, or 

 by showing that you were covered by in- 

 surance or proper bond to meet such claims. 

 If these requirements are not met you will 

 lose your operator's license and all car regis- 

 trations unless you settle the case with the 

 other parties. 



13) Q. Am I required to deposit security 

 if the accident was not my fault? 



A. The law requires security to be de- 

 posited by both parties in the accident re- 

 gardless of who was at fault. Neither the 

 Department of Public Works and Buildings 

 nor the Secretary of State determines who 

 was at fault for the accident. As indicated 

 in Question 10, that finding is to be made 

 by the courts when a lawsuit is brought. 



14) Q. What is the greatest amount I 

 will be required to deposit? 



A. The law may require you to deposit as 

 much as $11,000 if the accident injured two 

 or more people and caused damage to prop- 

 erty. 



15) Q. If I deposit cash or other security 

 will it be returned to me? 



A. The deposit made will be returned to 

 you if no lawsuit is brought against you 

 within one year, if in a lawsuit a court de- 

 termines you were not at fault or if you 

 settle the claims with the other parties. 



16) Q. Does this new law mean that I 

 must carry liability insurance? 



A. No. However, in most cases unless 

 you are able to take care of damages out of 

 your own funds you will loose your right 

 to drive if you are not insured. 



in the 



National Farm and Home Hour has 

 returned to the air in a new series on 

 a coast-to-coast network at 12 noon to 

 12:30 p.m. central standard time. 



10 



L A. A. RECORD 



