SPEED ON THE ROADS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21863, 17 August 1936, Page 8

SPEED ON THE ROADS

Limit of 30 Miles An Hour LOCAL BODY BY LAWS NOT OVERRIDDEN The operation of the new speed limit for traffic of 30 miles an hour is likely to cause some confusion among motorists for a time, unless they realise that it is not yet universal. At the present time, this limit applies only to those boroughs and town districts where there is no lower limit—it does not override the provisions of local body by-laws.

In Christchurch the maximum speed allowed by the City Council’s by-laws is 25 miles an hour and this is subject to. a reduction to 15 miles an hour at intersections and corners.

The Minister has power under the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act recently passed by the Government to review and, if necessary, alter local by-laws for driving motor vehicles, but until the Minister has made this review, which must take some time, the position will be somewhat confusing. There are three points for motorists to bear in mind: (1) The absolute limit imposed by statute in cities, boroughs, and town districts or declared areas, where notices must appear, is SO miles an hour. . (2) Local authority by-laws which set a lower speed limit are still in force. (3) Whether speed limits are being enforced under the statutory limitation of 30 miles an hour or under local authority by-laws, the provisions governing negligent and dangerous driving still apply. If a speed of 10 miles an hour can be held to be dangerous or negligent driving in certain circumstances, motorists will have no shelter under the statutory or a local authority by-law limit. Particular By-laws In Force Motorists must remember also that particular by-laws limiting speed round corners, across intersections, past workmen, schools, hospitals, etc., are still in force. The Minister has power to grant an exemption from the limit where there is a long length of road through a borough or through an area where there is little population. In addition to announcing that he intends to review local by-laws, the Minister for Transport, the Hon. R. Semple, has said that he proposes to issue a code covering good driving practices and the motor regulations. This code is receiving the urgent "attention of the Minister’s department and is likely to be issued at an early datfe. The Minister is also inyestigating the regulation of pedestrian traffic, and it is considered likely that an announcement about this part of his work will be made when the code for motorists is completed.