Traffic Laws

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31836, 14 November 1968, Page 12

Traffic Laws

”.ir, —I was recently stopped by a traffic officer for exceeding 30 miles an hour in a gazetted area. 1though I freely admit my error, and :alise that 1 could have been prosecuted, the particul piece of road at the time was devoid of any traffic either motor or pedestrian. I could have driven at 55 miles an hour with com--1 ’et safety. On frequent occasions on leaving football matches, race meetings, etc., I have had to exceed 40 miles an hour to keep my position in a line of dense traffic. Although this traffic was already breaking the law, traffic officers at intersections vigorously waved me on. Does this mean that they not oply condone but encourage me to break the law to a greater extent? Would the chief traffic officer please give his opinion on these contrasting situations?—Yours, etc., REASON WHY. November 5, 1968. [Mr D. L. Hogan, district officer of the Transport Department, replies: “Traffic officers in this department do not agree that motorists are required to exceed 40 m.p.h. in getting away from football matches, race meetings, etc., in 30 m.p.h. areas. A direction from a traffic officer to hurry is not to be interpreted as encouragement to exceed the speed limit.”]