SIEED LIMIT ON ROADS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25609, 25 September 1948, Page 6

SIEED LIMIT ON ROADS

MOTW. UNION SEEKS ' CHANGE * DRIV«G TO COMMON DJMGER rule Abolitions the 40 miles an hour speed limit Iki reversion to the driving to the comnM danger rule was unanimously urgeaby the South Island Motor Union yesterday afternoon. A reservation w* made that limits imposed on hea> vehicles (to reduce ■ wear on the njds) should be mainl tained. Making the proposal from the Autol mobile Associate (Canterbury), Mr R. Twyneham sfri that the present » limit was imposetfeolely to save tyres and petrol. New ties were now available. Petrol wasiationed and if a motorist chose to we up his ration on a fast trip it-was lis own affair. Lifting the limit did that uncontrolled driving was-©proved. It simply meant driving at atjpeed suitable to the circumstances, it times 20 miles an hour was too fastin a difficult section of road. Ordidry private cars would not cause undui heavy wear on roads by higher speed. Most modern cars were quite safe aft speeds greater than 40 miles an hour. An Otago delegate aid flouting of the present limit broujit it into disrepute. / Mr E. Palliser (North Island Motor Union,) said that if then was a limit of, say, 60 miles an heir, everyone would drive up to it. living to* the common danger rule demnded desirable individual responsibly. If 40 miles an hour ww the maximum for safety, why shoild Government buses be allowed to travel at -55 to 60 and Ministerial cars it 70 to 75 miles an hour, asked Mr F W. Breen (Otago). Mr R. Wilson (South Canterbury) claimed that increased soced| increased 1 the danger of accidents arg quoted statistics to support his cast About 75 per cent, of the vehklenon New ! Zealand roads were 12 yean old, he ■ said. He suggested that the inion aik ■ ior an increase to 50 miles an hour. Mr C. J. Walker (South Canterbury) 1 agreed that this was a fair and more ‘ reasonable demand. Mr M. H. (motoristfrepresentative on the Main HighwaysSoard) 1 suggested that whichever proposal was adopted, the speed of heavy vehicles should be limited to reduce darrage to the roads. When the proposal for a 50-miks-an-hour limit was put to the meeting, about a third supported it. The original motion was th’cn carried unanimously.