30-MILE LIMIT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 206, 1 September 1936, Page 16

30-MILE LIMIT.

MAYOR'S REPORT.

MOTORISTS' GOOD RESPONSE

SAFETY-FIRST WEEK PLANNED

"From a preliminary survey, it appears that motorists-in Auckland are responding well to the operation of the new road speed limit of 30 miles per hour which, under the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 10315, came into operation on July 31," stated a report by the Mayo-, Mr. Ernest Davis, presented at last evening's meeting of t.ie City Council. "1 feel i am expressing the wishes generally of the council m appealing for the wholehearted co-opera-tion of users of the roads in observing within the city's boundaries, as elsewhere, the new maximum speed provided bv the law. * "When in Wellington last week, 1 discussed infoinially with the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, questions affecting the preservation of life and limb, and ! assured him of the council's desire to do all that lay in its power to assist in the prevention of road accidents and in the creation of safe highways for motorists and pedestrians alike. 1 informed Mr. Semple that 1 would, toward the end of tiie year, make arrangements for the holding of a trallic 'safety linst' week, along the lines of the campaign conducted in 1935. Warning To Drivers, "I am advised by , the council's superintendent of trafiie that when the 30 miles an hour speed limit came into force, steps were taken by the department to ensure a close observance of the limit by motorists within the city boundaries. In the belief that immediate prosecutions could serve no useful purpose, ollicers on speeding duty were, at the outset, instructed to report all cases where the limit of 30 miles was exceeded, so that a balanced classification might be made. The result was that warning letters were sent to all motorists whose speed exceeded the legal limit by only a small margin. In the case of higher speeds, prosecutions were taken against drivers for driving at a speed which might be dangerous to the public.

"It is gratifying to record that officers operating in streets where the speed of traffic is timed, report a marked reduction in the aggregate speed of motor vehicles. The night patrol also reports a noticeable observance of the new speed limit 011 the part of motorists.

"From the inquiries I have made, it would appear to me that the maintenance of an effective control 011 the speed of vehicles on the roads and streets of the less populated parts of the city will involve the services of a more mobile force. I know I am correctly interpreting the minds of councillors in stating emphatically that the council is not looking merely to collect lines and penalties, and that it would greatly appreciate the assistance all motorists can give % carefully keeping within the speed prescribed by Statute, for the safety of themselves and of the general public."

The report was adopted