Imperial Road Law

In order to have save roads in the Empire, the Emperor has signed the following law:

I. Road is every paved way, path, road, street outside a gong
II. Traveller is any being using a road
III. Car is all kind of vehicles with wheels, wider than one fathom.
IV. A road section is the part of a road between to distinctive places, such as settlements, crossings, junctions.

1. A road where the Imperial Road Law applies, has to be paved with cobblestones, bricks or other hard surface that is easy to ride on with cars.
2. The road ends where it is paved no more or where it enters a settlements gong.
3. There has to be a signal where the gong begins.
a. This signal should be a stone column of at least half a fathom high with the inscription "Gong of X" (where X must be the name of the settlement) on one side and "End of Gong, next gong Y" (where Y must be the name of the next gong) on the other side.
b. Where gongs border each other, the gong columns have to be placed next to each other.
c. The gong column might carry the Imperial Crown to indicate it is placed on a street where Imperial Law applies, and the Coat of Arms of the region or the city. Other decoration is prohibited.
4. At each crossing of the road, a direction sign must be placed.
a. The direction sign must carry the names of the settlements that are on both ends on this section of the Road and the names of the next guesthouses on both sides of the road section. The distance in spring stonds might be added. Other settlements might be added if they are also in that direction and have a larger population than the other settlement mentioned in that direction. Other notes, signs, advertisements etc. are forbidden.
b. The direction sign must be visible in daylight, and with good weather condition, from any direction from distance of at least 50 fathoms. The figures on it must be readable from a distance of 2 fathoms.
7. The replacement, destroying, tuning, stealing and changing of signs of any kind along the road is forbidden. Penalty is 500 days work for the Emperors Department of Labour.
6. The Road has to be 3 fathoms wide. This does not apply to sections where it is too dangerous to have a wide road, such as in the mountains or nears swamps. There have to be signs at the narrow places, as shown in figure 1, figure 2 and figure 3 .
a. Cars seeing figure 1 must stop at the side of the road to let cars from the other direction pass until the narrow section is clear from other cars. If the other car is still in the distance, the car seeing the sign from figure 1 might drive further, until a sign as shown in figure 3.
b. Cars seeing figure 2 must hurry to free the narrow section, so cars from the other direction can pass.
c. It is prohibited to stop in the narrow section. Where ever possible, there are places to stop and let other cars pass. There places have a sign as shown in figure 3.
d. Places with a sign as seen in figure 3 should be kept free from traffic that is not waiting to let approaching traffic pass, and all other objects or persons.

figure 1: Stop for any approaching traffic
figure 2: Drive on and clear the road for approaching traffic
figure 3: Place to wait for approaching traffic

7. On the road, it is prohibited to carry sharp weapons of any kind in hand. All sharp weapons should be carried in a cover.
8. Littering the road is prohibited. Garbage must be taken along or thrown off road. Any traveller has to clear the road from any kind of obstacles as branches, dead animals, etc., so travelling stays safe. Only faeces from animals is tolerated on the roads.
9. It is prohibited to dig in the road or destroy the road in any other way.
10.a. Each road section must have a road guard. The road guard is paid by the Emperors Department of Treasure. The road guard has to walk, ride or drive his section of the road throughout the day. It is his duty to report damages, to help travellers and generally keep the road a safe place.
10.b. The road guard is the only person allowed to carry and use weapons on the road to protect travellers.
10.c. The road guard is allowed to take people in custody.
11. Each road section is divided between the cities on the ends of the sections. Each of this cities must have a team of workers ready to repair the road part that belongs to the city. The repair can also be coordinated from the capital of a region. This team is also responsible for keeping the road clear of ice, snow and leafs.
12. Repair from road damage must be done as soon as possible. The road must be cleared and usable at all times.
13. Trade on the road is prohibited.
14. Robbing from people using the road is prohibited, so is bothering people, annoying them and interrupting someone elses journey
15. On some roads a toll is asked. This toll should cover the costs of maintenance of the road. If a road is hardly damaged and the maintenance costs are low, the Toll Master might decide to invest in extra service along the road. The extra service, however, must not raise the toll.

(Ildritz, 1658, based on the original Road Law of 1189)

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