SPEED Of MOTORISTS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5123, 9 May 1927, Page 2

SPEED Of MOTORISTS.

LIMIT IN KARANGAHAKE GORGE.

COUNTY COUNCIL DISCUSSION,

The, speed at which motorists travel in the Karangahake Gorge was introduced at Thursday’s meeting of the Ohinemuri, County Council by the acting engineer (Mr L. E. Shaw), who, in the course of his monthly reportstated: “As several motor accidents have occurred recently on the PaeroaWaihi road I would suggest that the speed limit notice board now placed at the Waihi end of Rahu Road be moved farther towards Waihi and placed j,n a position at the northern end of Cummings’ Flat, as most of the accidents have taken place between these two points.” The chairman (Mr H. M. Corbett) said he did not think that the notice boards were an appreciable, check to speeding. He was of the opinion that the position would never be satisfactory until an inspector was appointed who could give his time to the work. Cr. W. F. Johnstone pointed out that the warning boards asked for speed to be reduced to JO miles an hour. He contended that that speed was unreasonably slow on a road where there was a clear vision ahead, and motorists would not come down to it. However, lie thought that 10 miles an hour was a reasonable speed and desirable on the corners in the Karangahake Gorge. It should be the duty of an inspector, to pay particular attention to brakes of motor vehicles. Travelling at 10 miles an hour, a motorist should be able to pull up in a car’s length without any trouble. The road through the gorge was perfectly safe so long-as motorists proceeded with caution and observed the warning npti es, and he did not think the council need consider reducing the speed to below 10 miles an hour.

Cr. A. R. Robinson agreed, and suggested that perhaps large warning boards bearing the, word “Dangerous" might be effective in checking speeding, which was the cause of. many accidents. On second thoughts he supposed the notice would be effective only so far as strangers were concerned, and would have little effect on those who were familiar with the road.

The, chairman remarked that it would not stop the “mugs,” who were among the worst offenders. Referring again to road signs, Cr. Johnstone drew attention to what he considered was one of the “most ridiculous signs in New Zealand.” He referred to the notices at either end of the Criterioiy Bridge over the Ohinemuri Riv.ei at Paeroa which limited the speed to four miles an hour. The speed was far too slow, and he believed it was rarely observed where motorists had a clear run ahead. He hoped that when the ne.w bridge was completed the County Council, as a contributipg body to the cost, would have a say in fixing the sp<k.d limit. It was resolved to approve of the removal of the notices as recommended, and also to write to the Auckland Automobile Association requesting it to erect suitable, warning notices, and to give an indication as to what it considered was a reasonable and safe, speed in that locality.