Locomotives on Highways Act 1896

The powerful railways lobby and those with interests in transport using horse-drawn vehicles advocated the original Locomotive Acts which imposed very low speed limits and other restrictions on the use of "locomotives" and motorcars on the UK public highways. Motor car enthusiasts strongly urged the removal of these restrictions on motorcars. The Mayor of Tunbridge Wells, Sir David Salomons, organized the first automobile exhibition to be held on 15 October 1895 in his local agricultural society's showgrounds. On the day the ground was too soft so he led the vehicles out onto the road from the showground to the town. "Not one of the horses so much as lifted an eye as the horseless carriages sped somewhat noisily by". The day before the flotation of the Daimler Motor Company Ltd and Lawson's promotional gathering of almost 1,700 people on 15 February 1896, the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, was driven about the location, the Imperial Institute, by Simms' friend, Evelyn Ellis, in the Daimler-engined Panhard & Levassor "Ellis subsequently ran the car in many parts of England doing what he could to induce the authorities to take proceedings against him ... but the authorities did not accept his challenge".) plus 10 shillings costs (or possibly 12s 6d). Parliament first debated the Locomotives on the Highway Bill in 1895 but the bill lapsed when Gladstone's minority Liberal government fell that year. Following the 1895 general election a new parliament, formed by the Conservative and Liberal Unionist parties, debated the proposal again, and the act was passed, taking effect on 14 November 1896. During the debate for the bill, various speeds between were discussed with reference to the speed of a horse and what would be deemed to be 'furious driving' in relation to a horse. ==Clauses==

The act defined a new category of vehicle, light locomotives, which were vehicles under 3 tons unladen weight. These 'light locomotives' were exempt from the three crew member rule, and were subject to the higher speed limit although most local authorities had the authority to reduce it to . ==Subsequent developments==

In celebration of the act being passed Lawson organised an Emancipation Run, which took place on 14 November 1896 when thirty vehicles travelled from London to Brighton. Annual commemoration of that emancipation day drive became famous and is known as the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. The relaxation of usage restrictions eased the way for the development of the British motor industry. The speed limit was raised to by the Motor Car Act 1903 (3 Edw. 7. c. 36). Both the 1896 act and the 1903 act were repealed by section 122 of, and the fifth schedule to, the Road Traffic Act 1930 (20 & 21 Geo. 5. c. 43). ==See also==