TOO WIDE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 134, 8 June 1936, Page 9

TOO WIDE.

AUCKLAND OPINIONS. MOTORIST'S OBJECTIONS. " INCONSIDERATE » CLAUSE "Apart from one or two matters I will mention, I think I am safe in saying that the new legislation will be generally endorsed as being a tightening up of regulations for the purpose of curbing the reckless driver and reducing accidents, two things which are most desirable," said Mr. G. W. Hutchison, secretary of the Automobile Association (Auckland), when interviewed this morning. Touching the clause which empowers the Minister of Transport to disallow any traffic by-law made by a local authority, Mr. Hutchison said the Minister already had that power, except where a by-law had been passed under the Town Boards Act. The opinion of motorists was that no by-law should be effective until approved by the Minister rather than that a by-law should remain effective until disallowed. "The proposed maximum speed limits of 30 miles an hour in cities, boroughs and town districts is something the Automobile Association!! have consistently opposed," said Mr. Hutchison. "We have always considered the fixing of limits as constituting an unsatisfactory and ineffective method of controlling traffic. The two main objections are that to secure convictions for breaches of the speed limit regulations traps must be set, and these are costly to operate, and in the case of a 30-mile speed limit motorists will be tempted to drive up to 30 miles at times when the prevailing conditions might render such speed dangerous.

"The clause dealing with driving 'without reasonable consideration' for others was recently considered by the North Island Motor Union, and an objection was submitted, it being considered that it was too wide and indefinite."

Mr. Hutchison said that although there was 110 mention of provision for tlie imposition of fines in cases where carelessness had been proved, he took it that the clause providing for general penalties up to £~>o would apply. He did not think the offence of "dangerous" driving had l)een deleted, but that "careless" and "inconsiderate" driving were added to the previous list of breaches of motoring regulations.