Speed Limit Criticised

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31231, 1 December 1966, Page 3

Speed Limit Criticised

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON,

November 30.

The president of the New Zealand Automobile Association (Mr H. W. Dowling), today joined the vicepresident of the Royal Automobile Association of South Australia (Sir Keith Angus), in an attack on the 55 miles an hour speed limit on the open road in New Zealand.

Sir Keith Angus yesterday described the speed limit as “quite absurd.”

“On many occasions prosecutions are taken for exceeding 55 m.p.h. on the open highway, when such speed, in the circumstances, admitted-

ly contains no danger whatsoever,” said Mr Dowling. "Such prosecutions serve no useful purpose, except where the speed is dangerously excessive in the light of conditions ruling at the time or the condition of the vehicle concerned.

“Such prosecutions, at times, give rise to the feeling that enforcement authorities are concentrating too greatly on the suppression of technical offences rather than giving their time and attention to the policing of more serious offences.

“The arbitrary insistence of the maximum speed of 55 m.p.h. on clear, open and comparatively straight stretches of open road, engenders a feeling of impatience in the motorist and makes very many disinclined to proceed at a much more moderate pace when the conditions require that they do so, even though the legal limit remains at 55 m.p.h. “Driving at 55 m.p.h. can be infinitely more dangerous under adverse conditions than

a much greater speed under favourable conditions.

“Speed must be related to road conditions, concentration of traffic, the condition of the vehicle being driven, and all other relevant factors. It is the Automobile Associations’ firm view that it is excessive speed in the circumstances that is the danger, not high speed when such a speed is creating no danger.”