To Regulate Automobile Driving.

The New York Times
May 11, 1900

Special to The New York Times.

SPRINGFIELD, L. I., May 10.—Farmers who live along or have occasion to drive over the Merrick Road will petition the Board of Supervisors of Nassau, at their next meeting, to take steps to regulate the running of automobiles over the roads of Long Island. Complaint is made that the machines are run at so high a rate of speed that horses are firghtened, and many accidents have occurred though fortunately none of them have as yet resulted fatally. The farmers complain that the trouble is occasioned by men who are on the roads testing machines for speed rather than for pleasure, and that the nuisance is greater than any ever occasioned by the "scorching" bicycle riders. The farmers do not ask for the prohibition of the use of machines, only the regulation of the rate of speed. They will appeal to the farmers of Suffolk County to aid them in their purpose.