CHECKING SPEEDING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 3, 26 April 1939, Page 1

CHECKING SPEEDING

JOB FOR COUNCIL OFFICERS WARNING TO MOTORISTS A decision that the county engineers and the inspector .should assist the Transport Department inspector by giving him particulars of any cases of speeding in motor veh. icles they witnessed in the course oi their duties, was taken by' the Whakatane County Council at its meeting on Mondaj'.. This followed consideration of a letter from Inspector «Delves which stated that the writer was aware that speeding was taking place. He pointed out that it is exceedingly 'diiifficult to get the necessary evidence for Court proceedings against the drivers as it is advisable to be able to prove the correct speed and not rely on guesswork. He is not allowed to work out of uniform nor is he allowed to set traps, and as the council knows the writer's car is very well known to the drivers. He suggested that the county engineer and the assistant engineer adopt the same procedure as the P.W.D. officials and employees, that is, when able to get the necessary evidence for any particular breach which warrants a prosecution, they advise the inspector immediately and later give him a written statement of the incident. If this is done the. inspector can, then take the necessary proceedings and when it becomes known amongst drivers that they will be prosecuted if caught speeding by the county engineers it is felt that this will help to lessen this class of offence. Cr C. McCready asked whether this would apply to car speeding too. To one truck speeding there were a dozen cars. Anyone might think tlu? scheme was directed against trucit drivers alone. Speeding was going on every day. Men and boys famous for their speeding were employed on taxis. In his opinion it was high time something was done by the in. i spector. 1 Cr F. Burt said a great danger was the fast driving over small bridges hv lorry drivers. Speeding was "\ciy had through Matata. Cr J. L. Burnett said this suggestion would have a great effect. Inspector Delves wa s handicapped, but in spite of this he was doing job very well. He said this in justice to the inspector.