MOTORING SPEED LIMITS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5196, 28 October 1927, Page 2

MOTORING SPEED LIMITS

RESTRICTIONS BY LOCAL BODIES.

A SUBJECT OF IMPORTANCE.

The resolution passed by the Manawatu County Council in connection with the speed of motor-buses, which formed the subject, of comment made by Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court at Bulls, touches upon a question that becomes of ever-in-creasing importance to local bodies and the public generally, as can readily be judged by the wide publicity given to the statement. It has, perhaps, a particular bearing on the motor traffic position in this district., for prosecutions have recently been instituted against service car drivers for exceeding the speed limits. The review of the situation by the Manawatu Daily Times is therefore worth republishing. It is as follows :— “Although one may feel inclined to sympathise with both parties on the ground that the incident is more or less due to a misunderstanding between the magistrate and the council, one cannot lose sight of the fact that a very 'important principle; is involved which, in the interests of the general public, must be given finality as soon as possible. The principle involved is whether the speed of motor vehicles should be determined by the ampunt of damage that is being done to the roads or whether a fair and reasonable. margin of safety to vehicular and pedestrian traffic should be the sole determining factor. There are, of course, many instances where the two nearly, or entirely, meet, notwitnstanding the fact that speed limits for ordinary motor traffic have been placarded all over the country, which, instead of being warnings or a deterrent, are nothing more or lessi than incitements to break the law. The regulation that buses should travel at a speed of sixteen miles an hour i< onei of these absurdities which, in our opinion, Mr Stout rightly considered as unreasonable and therefore refused to enforce a fine. That this refusal to enforce a fine was at least part of the grievance that prompted the resolution of censure from the Manawatu County Council it is only reasonable to assume. At the same time it is fair to state that the action was brought, not so much with a view of inflicting a fine or to compel buses to travel at sixteen miles an hour as to make them apply to the council for a reasonable speed limit. Mr Stout, in his original judgment, did. apparently not comment op this particular aspect of the case, and it is just a question whether the prosecution sufficiently emphasised the point, which would naturally have an important bearing on the case.

“ If any blame is due to anyone, however, it is due to those wiho wer& responsible for the drafting of the regulations made by Order-ijn-Council under the Act. To provide for a speed limit of sixteen miles an hour reminds one of the days when an attendant, with a red flag had to precede a motor vehicle Such regulations are not drawn up with a view to public safety, but tp the damage done to the road, and it is this principle which is a very debatable point and open to widely divergent opinions.

“ It must be obvious that, motor traffic in all its phases has come to stay, and, whether we may like it or not, is increasing rapidly. The multitude of regulations, by-laws, and heavy traffic taxation has only had a small restricting influence simply because it is a system of traffic that renders a real service to the community. This fact; should be fully recognised, and the objection of controlling bodies should not be in the direction of hindering and obstructing this growing traffic by irritating speed and other regulations, but they should insist on the traffic paying a fair and reasonable proportion towards the upkeep of the roads which are so essential to its business. If this were the case' it would not. be necessary for councils to confess that they have not the monejy to make roads that will allow motor vehicles of every description to travel at, unlimited spqed The case of Jdanawatu County Council, which has received wide publicity, will no doubt help to focus attention on some of the glaring anomalies that exist in the gazetted regulations and motor bylaws throughout New Zealand. With the tremendous, increase apd change which have taken place in motor traffic during the last few years, a general overhaul and unification of these regulations becomes an evergreater necessity. If the present controversy helps to hasten that day’ it will have done good. This fact may be of some consolation to the magistrate and members of the Manawatu County Council, both of whom were no doubt actuated by the best motives and are desirous of acting in the best interests of the public.”