ROAD SAFETY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 201, 25 August 1937, Page 10

ROAD SAFETY.

30 FUNCTION NOKTHCOTE OPPOSES EXEMPTION. IA communication from the Commissioner Mr. G. L. Lauren-" son,': advised xithe ..Northcote Borough Council last night that, following an iri&pection By" an "officer ' of" * the" Department, it' was considered, that;.the Lake Road eeption of the Main Northern Highway through- Northcbte should be excluded from the speed restriction of 30 miles per hour.-; "This section, from a point beyond: *the school to the ..Takapuna borough boundary,. traverses a rural area, although: within the borough limits," he wrote. "It •is intended that the 30 miles.per hour, provision should apply only 'to closely-built areas, laid out as business or' Tesidential streets, and for that reason it i&" desirable that the section referred to should be excluded from the restriction. It is obvious that for part of this length high speeds are hot attainable owing to the nature of the road, but it should be understood that the removal of this arbitrary' speed limit does not license drivers to travel at a. speed which might be dangerous. The same general provisions of the law apply as is the case on a rural road where no restriction applies. Under no circumstances^—whether there is or is not a speed limit—may any person drive in a negligent manner or at such a speed as may be dangerous to other road users." t-, The Mayor, Mr. R. Martin, said the council had Written opposing exemption three months ago. ' Mr. A. M.'Peafn: Below the school is a danger spot. "^ Mr. Ni'-S.' Davidsdnr The gully is a dear- ti*a£,* and.several accidents have occurred at the bridge. The Mayor quoted- from a circular over the signature of the same official that "the Government viewed with considerable concern the still high casualty rate in road accidents," and said it was hard to reconcile i that attitude with allowing the restriction of 30 miles an hour to be lifted in Lake Road. It showed, he - added, that the officer was "just pushed 'by A.A. men." The council , decided to. reiterate its objections to a greater speed than 30 ;miles'an hour On the road.