Life — October 5, 1911 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Exceeding the Speed Limit" - Life Magazine, October 5, 1911 This cartoon satirizes early automobile safety concerns. A portly man in a top hat rides a bicycle at high speed with a young child seated behind, while Uncle Sam (identifiable by his starred top hat, left) watches disapprovingly. The caption "Exceeding the Speed Limit" suggests reckless behavior. The joke likely critiques wealthy or powerful figures who disregard traffic laws and endanger children through irresponsible driving. The bicycle—not yet an automobile—may indicate this was drawn during the early motorcar era when speed limits were novel and frequently ignored by the privileged classes. The small dog in the lower left adds to the scene's chaos, emphasizing the danger created by excessive speed.