6 
disposition of articles left in their vehicles, the overloading of busses, 
and the occupancy of the seat beside the operator of a bus. 
Duties in Case of Accident 
The operator of any vehicle concerned in any accident involving 
injury to person or property must remain on the scene of the accident 
until police authorities arrive or must communicate a full report of 
the accident to the nearest police authority without delay. In addi¬ 
tion, where a person or another vehicle has been struck, the operator 
of the striking vehicle, and persons with him who have or assume 
authority over him, must give all necessary assistance to injured per¬ 
sons, including carrying them to a doctor if medical treatment is 
necessary or such carrying is requested. 
Owner’s Responsibilities 
The owner or lawful custodian of a motor vehicle is forbidden to 
permit the vehicle to be operated by an unlicensed person. The 
owner of a vehicle, if riding therein, is jointly liable with the operator 
for any violation of the regulations. The owner or lawful custodian 
of a motor vehicle who causes or knowingly permits a minor under 
the age of 18 years to operate the vehicle, and every person who gives 
or furnishes a motor vehicle to such a minor, are jointly and severally 
liable with the minor for any violations of the regulations by the 
minor. 
Fire Fighting Apparatus 
Upon the approach of any fire fighting-apparatus all other moving 
vehicles must stop along the side of the highway until the fire-fighting 
apparatus has passed. It is unlawful to drive any vehicle over a 
fire hose; to obstruct, delay, hinder, or impede any fire-fighting appa¬ 
ratus or the driver thereof, or any fireman discharging his duty; or to 
pass, or to ride in or on any vehicle in front of or at the side of, any 
fire-fighting apparatus. 
Miscellaneous Rules of the Road and Other Regulations 
Righthand rule of the road. The righthand rule of the road applies 
in the Canal Zone; that is, vehicles in meeting and passing other 
vehicles, or in being overtaken and passed by other vehicles, shall 
keep to the right of the road, and in overtaking and passing other 
vehicles shall keep to the left. 
Precaution required in executing certain movements . Before executing 
the following movements the operator of a vehicle must satisfy him¬ 
self that the movement can be made with safety; starting, stopping, 
turning from a direct line, backing, passing another vehicle, entering 
a highway from an alley or a driveway, or crossing railroad tracks. 
Passing on curves , grades or intersections . A vehicle must not over¬ 
take and pass another moving vehicle at a highway intersection, or 
when approaching the crest of a grade or upon a curve where the view 
is obstructed within a distance of 300 feet. 
Speed limits. In general the speed limits in the Canal Zone, day 
and night, are 25 miles per hour within town limits and 40 miles per 
hour outside town limits. Greater or lesser speed limits at particular 
places or in particular zones or areas may be established by official 
7 
signs posted on or near the highway. At all times and places the speed 
of a vehicle must be no greater than is reasonable and prudent undqr 
the conditions and having regard for the actual potential hazards then 
existing, and in every event speed must be so controlled as may be nec¬ 
essary to avoid colliding with any person, vehicle or other conveyance 
on or entering the highway in compliance with legal requirements and 
the duty of all persons to use due care. Consistently with the above 
every vehicle must be driven at appropriate reduced speed when 
approaching and crossing an intersection or railway grade crossing, 
when approaching and going around a curve, when approaching a 
hill crest, when traveling on any narrow or winding roadway, and 
when special hazard exists with respect to pedestrians or other traffic 
or by reason of weather or highway conditions. A motor vehicle may 
not be driven so slowly as to impede the normal and reasonable move¬ 
ment of traffic except when reduced speed is necessary for safe oper¬ 
ation or in compliance with law. 
Reckless driving and driving while intoxicated . It is unlawful to 
operate any vehicle in a reckless manner or to drive any motor vehicle 
while intoxicated. Heavier penalties are prescribed for operating a 
motor vehicle recklessly thereby causing great bodily injury to the 
person of another, and for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated 
and causing the death of, or bodily injury to, any person. 
Following too closely. Another vehicle must not be followed more 
closely than is reasonable and prudent. 
Coasting . Coasting on any grade with gears disengaged or in neu¬ 
tral is prohibited. 
Riding in improper place on vehicle. A person may not ride in a 
vehicle upon any portion thereof not designed or intended for use of 
passengers, except in cases of employees engaged in the necessary dis¬ 
charge of a duty or persons riding in space intended for merchandise. 
Carrying articles on outside of vehicles. Nothing may be carried on 
the outside of a vehicle except on running boards or on trunk or bag¬ 
gage racks at the rear of the vehicle. 
Clinging to moving vehicles. No person riding upon any bicycle, 
motorcycle, coaster, roller skates, or any toy vehicle may attach the 
same or himself to any moving vehicle. 
Driving on road shoulders. It is unlawful wilfully or recklessly to 
operate a vehicle in such manner as to cause damage to any road 
shoulder. 
Cleats or lugs on face of wheels. No vehicle with cleats, lugs, etc. 
on the face of its wheels may operate on any highway without written 
authority from the Municipal Engineer. 
Operation in military areas. In military areas operators of vehicles 
must obey all “No Parking/' “Stop,” “Bus Stop,” “One-Way Road," 
“Speed Limit,” and other signs and signals placed on the highways 
by competent military authority for the control or direction of traffic. 
Bicycles. Bicycles need not be registered or licensed in the Canal 
Zone. Every bicycle must be equipped with a suitable warning device 
such as a horn or bell, but unnecessary use thereof is prohibited, and 
must display one bright headlight at night. 
MR 23516—Panama Canal—8-25-47—5,000 
