Car Craze

Early modern legislation concerning the use of cars dealt with registration, driver licensing, lights for night driving and speed limits. As the number of cars increased and longer trips became common, a working system that would easily identify cars became necessary. Car owners were initially required to produce their own registration plates out of wood, leather or metal prior to the availability of manufactured license plates.

The licensing of drivers came much later than compulsory registration. The two white headlights and at least one red tail lights were required after electronic lights were developed. Laws that dealt with speed limits in the city and country were the most restrictive especially when most cars were able to go as fast as 25 miles an hour. The legal maximum speed limit increased very slowly before the coming of the superhighways.