Stage Coaches Act 1790 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
|
|
| Long title | An Act to alter, explain, and amend an Act made in the Twenty-eighth Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, intituled, "An Act for limiting the Number of Persons to be carried on the Outside of Stage Coaches or other Carriages," and for regulating the Conduct of the Drivers and Guards thereof. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 30 Geo. 3. c. 36 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 10 June 1790 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Stage Coaches, etc. (Great Britain) Act 1810 |
| Relates to | Stage Coaches Act 1788 |
|
Status: Repealed
|
|
The Stage Coaches Act 1790 was an important law made by the Parliament of Great Britain in 1790. Its main goal was to control how many people could ride on stagecoaches. Stagecoaches were like public buses of the past, carrying people and mail between towns.
This law was an update to an earlier one, the Stage Coaches Act 1788. It made rules clearer and helped make sure people traveled safely.
Contents
What Was the Stage Coaches Act 1790?
This law, also known as 30 Geo. 3. c. 36, was created to improve safety on stagecoaches. It set new limits on how many passengers could ride outside the coach. It also made it easier to collect fines from those who broke the rules. The Act officially started on September 29, 1790.
Why Was This Law Created?
Before these laws, stagecoaches could be very crowded, especially on the roof or driver's seat. This made journeys dangerous. The government wanted to prevent accidents and make travel safer for everyone.
Rules for Stagecoaches
The Act set specific rules for how stagecoaches should operate. These rules covered passenger numbers and driver behavior.
How Many People Could Ride?
- For coaches pulled by three or more horses:
* No more than four people were allowed on the roof. * Only one person (besides the driver) could sit on the "box" (the driver's seat area).
- For coaches pulled by fewer than three horses:
* Only one person could sit on the box. * No more than three people were allowed on the roof. * However, four people were allowed on the roof if the coach stayed within 25 miles of the Post Office in London.
What Happened If Rules Were Broken?
If a coach carried too many people, the driver had to pay a fine. This fine was five shillings for each extra person. The driver paid this fine to the toll collector at each turnpike gate they passed. A turnpike gate was like a toll booth where people paid to use the road.
Trying to avoid the fine by letting people off before a toll gate was also against the law. If a driver did this, they could be sent to prison for 14 days to one month.
Rules for Drivers and Guards
The Act also had rules for the people working on the coaches:
- The owner's name had to be clearly painted on the side door of every stagecoach. Mail coaches were an exception.
- A coachman (driver) was not allowed to let anyone else drive the coach without the passengers' permission.
- Drivers could also be fined if they overturned the coach. They would also be fined for any bad behavior that put passengers or their belongings in danger. These fines ranged from forty shillings to four pounds.
- A guard on the coach was not allowed to fire their weapons unless they were defending the coach. If they did, they would be fined twenty shillings.
The End of the Act
The Stage Coaches Act 1790 was eventually replaced. It was officially cancelled, or "repealed," by a new law in 1810. That law was called the 50 Geo. 3. c. 48.
