SPEEDING BY MOTORISTS

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27637, 19 April 1955, Page 3

SPEEDING BY MOTORISTS

ELECTROMATIC METER NOT FAVOURED VIEWS OF BRITISH POLICE "The Press’* Special Service AUCKLAND, April 18. British police do not think highly of the radar “traffic cop” and have recommended to the British Minister of Transport that it be not used. Extensive tests were made in three counties with the equipment, which is similar to that to be used in New Zealand.

The Minister of Transport (Mr W. S. Goosman) announced last month that seven radar devices would soon be operating on New Zealand roads. Objections made by the British officers conducting the tests were: The range of 60 yards was insufficient. They felt that the practice of following speeding vehicles for at least 400 yards, as at present, was more effective. The system did not save manpower. At least three men were needed to operate it, compared with the present system of either two men in a patrol car or one officer on a motor-cycle. Larger vehicles coming in both directions tended to blot out the speeding car on -the radar screen. It might nqt always be possible to obtain the index number of a speeding car correctly if it was moving too fast. After dusk, when many accidents occurred, it would be almost impossible. If a car did not stop on request, the third officer would have to give chase, upsetting the whole system until he returned.

For the results it would give, the equipment would be too expensive to equip forces throughout the country. The radar “eye” is officially known as the electromatic speed meter. It is housed in a small black box which c; ’ ‘ - -

n be placed in the open boot of a car with the “eye” feeing the oncoming traffic.

Commenting on the tests, which lasted three weeks, the Chief Constable of Cambridge, Mr B. N. Bebbington, said: “We felt that psychologically it would make motorists, careful, but today some counties have plain-clothes patrols operating and this is just as effective.

“Radar would have to be operated on fairly quiet stretches of road, but in view of the appalling number of road accidents police forces are anxious to prevent speeding in the busy areas where this radar system might not work properly. “We do not want to cause bitterness between police and motorists and that is why we think the present methods to combat speeding are fairer.” -