HEAVY TRAFFIC

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 150, 18 February 1932, Page 5

HEAVY TRAFFIC

AMENDING . REGULATIONS REGARDING SPEEDS AND LOADS POWERS OF AUTHORITIES

WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Provision is made under the heavy motor vehicle regulations permitting any controlling authority to prohibit ahsolutely or conditionally the use on any road of heavy motor vehicl.es during any specified periods, hut it is stipulated that this power must be used in a reasonable mannex*. No one is permitted to operate a traction engine or a metal-tyred heavy motor vehicle unless consent is obtained from the controlling authoi'ity. All heavy motor vehicles are elassified" according to the maximum load, and the Minister of Public W orks (in respect to any Government road), the Main Highways Board (in respect to any main highway under its eontrol) , and the local authority having the eontrol of any other road or main highway in respect to such road, are empowered to classify the roads according to their availability for use. Maximum Speeds The maximum speeds are also fixed. The limit in the case of motor vehicles, which are motor-cars or motor omnibuses within the meaning of the Motor Vehicles Act, is 35 miles an hour where the maximum gross weight ranges from two to three tons. The limit is progressively reduced as the maximum gross weight increases, andi is 20 miles an hour for vehicles in the six and a-half to 15 tons classes. It is stipulated that these limits apply to vehicles all the tyres of which are pneumatie. The limits in the case of other heavy motor vehicles all the tyres of which are pneumatie vary from 25 miles an hour for those in the two to four and a-half tons classes to 15 miles an hour for those in the six and a-half to 15 tons classes. The limit in the case of heavy motor vehicles any tyre of which is solid rubber is 12 miles an hour, and when any tyre is metal the limit is eight miles an hour. • The maximum speed is reduced 50 per cent. for vehicles which are unsprung.