SPEED-RESTRICTED AREAS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 47, 11 March 1937, Page 6

SPEED-RESTRICTED AREAS

Central Hawke's Bay Proposals Questioned MOTGRISTS' V1EWS The opni.on of the North Island Motor Union "that speed restrictio'ns in' specific areas. should not be imposed unless absolutely necessary, because it is considered that driving to "the common danger should' be the test of safe driving or otherwise. is shared by tho Automobile Association (H.B.), which decided last night ;to . oppose . an application by the .Waipawa Oounty. Council for three areas in its di-strict to be declared 1 1 closely populated localities,, within the meaning of the new traffic regulations. The association is to advise the North Island Motor Union of this opposition and is to press for the early assistance of the Transport Department's oflS.cial in the matter of declaring what specific areas should have speed restrictions. A letter received by the associatioa from the North Island Motor Union on £h» subject read as follows: — "The Waipawa County Council has applied for the declaration of the fol-. lowing to be declared ciosely .populated localities: — , . (1) Pukehau: Napier - Wellington main highway, from the northern side of the public schooi to trees on the southern side. (2) Ongaonga: From the war memorial to Creek Bridge on WaipawaOngaonga main highway, including certain side roads. (3) Takapau: Waipukurau - Matamau main highway, from bridge at .saleyards to stock yards at railway station; also at right-angle from blacksmith's to Yicarage. Opinion Eequested. "I shall be obliged if your association would give consideration to. these applications and let me kiiow your decision for communication to the Transport Department . as early as possible. It is, I think, appropriate .for me to mention that the policy of this union is against the imposing of specific speed restrictions unless they are .absolutely necessary, because it is considered that driving to the common danger should be the test of safe driving or otherwise.7 ' When this letter was being discussed, the president, Mr. J. II. Edmundsou, pointed out tha't iusofar as tlie Takapau locality was concerned, .some seven miles of road were involved. To his mind the Waipawa County Council 's requests wero unreasonable, especially in view of the fact that in such localities as referred to above motorists had to drive slowly and carefully in any ease. "In the meantime, I think we should obje-ct to the council 7s application and ask thc North Island Motor Union to do its best to havo thc department 's olliccr look iuto the whole quostion of speed restrictions in speciilc arcus as soon as possiblo,77 he satu. Mr. E. M. Chadwick, tlio secretary, advised the meeting that it had been agreed between the North Island Motor Union and the Transport Department for an officer of the department to visil Hawke7s Bay soon, when, with the eooperation of the Autoriobilo Association a decision would oe made as to what re'jtricted area© should be choseu. In some districts, such as iu tlie airarapa, old res' ricted areas had been extended already. "Very foolishly, J think, the Wairarapa Automobile Association has donc this in pursuance of a private agreement with the Borocigh Council,77 he said. "I think they would have acted far more wisely by waiting. 7 7