SPEED OF CARS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 165, 30 July 1937, Page 7

SPEED OF CARS

7-Preaa Association. >

80 Miles an Hour Not Always Dangerous DISCUSSION IN COURT

(By Telegraph-

TIMARU, July 29. That a speed of &0 miles an hour ia not always dangerous was tho ruling given by Mr. H. Morgan, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court to-day, He held that such a speed for an efficient higk powered car handled by a competent driver on a straight, clear stretch oi road without interseetions was not dangerous to the public. The case, which was a test oue, was one in which Thomas O. Fox, Timaru borough engineer, was charged with diiving at a dangerous speed at Selwyn, 20 miles south of Christchurch. It was stated that he had travelled at 80 miles an hour. Evidence was given by v Transport Department traffic inspector that Fox was driviug earefully and that the road surface was good. He had gxowed down at ft* interseetion, and when passing a service car, which was throwing off paperB to children on tho roadside, he had reduced his speed tv 20 miles an hour. His speed had been inereased to 80 miles an hour on a straight, clear stretch of road with nc. interseetions and very iittle traffic. In witness' opinion, Fox was & competent driver, probably above the average. The inspector said that the Transport Department held as a question of prinCiple that from 69 to 80 miles an houi was dangerous on any class of road. The Magistrate said it was for the Legislature to fir a maximum speed It had not been proved to his sattafaction that in the circumstances the speed of 80 miles an hour was dan gerotis. He informed the inspector that his decision cotild be tested in the Supreme Court. The charge was dismissed.