SPEEDOMETER REGULATIONS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29625, 22 September 1961, Page 8

SPEEDOMETER REGULATIONS

Issue Of Warrants Of Fitness

“The regulation on speedometers makes provision for the case where a vehicle does not have a speedometer fitted or has 'one which is not operating," said the Commissioner of Transport (Mr A. E. Forsyth) in reply to a correspondent, “Two-wheeler,” who was unable to get a new speedometer . for his motorcycle, and asked what his position would be when he attempted to get a warrant of fitness.

The correspondent wrote: 'I was surprised to see n today's paper an article dating that speedometers would be required on most classes of motor-cycle by the first of next .month. It seems that tihe empowering act of Parliament was passed a year ago, allowing one year's grace for the trade to import sufficient speedometers to fill the demand thus created. This act if grace would have been the more impressive had the Government allowed dealers sufficient import licences to bring in the increased number of speedometers required. I cannot obtain a new speedometer for my machine, which is of a popular make and size, and would ippreciate a definite statement by the authorities as to my position when I try to get a warrant of fitness for it. What is the Transport Department’s attitude? Also, what instructions have been liven to the testing station?” “The regulation which :ame into effect on September I requires a speedometer to be fitted to every motor vecicle (other than a trailer >r power-cycle) first regis.ered after December 1, 1951, md capable of a speed in excess of 30 miles an hour,” Hr Forsyth said. 1 “Authorised garages and esting stations have been requested to issue warrants in cases where a spedometer is not fitted or is not operating, provided a statement in writing is supplied from a firm concerned with the repair of speedometers to the effect that the equipment is under repair, and it is not possible to obtain a suitable replacement speedometer for the vehicle.

“I may add that a review of the speedometer stock position indicated that the supply of spare parts and replacement units is satisfactory,” said Mr Forsyth.