Speeding on State Highway 75

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33965, 4 October 1975, Page 14

Speeding on State Highway 75

Sir, _ Will the Ministry of Transport enforce the speed restrictions on State ; Highwav 75. between Halswell Junction Road and Tai Tapu township. Of late, the speed of motor-cyclists and high-powered vehicles leaves a lot to be desired. This long straight strip of highway seems to be a “clean-out” strip to see how fast one’s; vehicle will travel. It is get-, ting a very common sight to 1 I see dragging between ve-

hides at speeds up to and over 90 to 100 m.p.h. (and that '- ould be a conservative estimate). But never have I seen the Ministry of Transport with a micro-wave unit (the best and effective means of controlling this kind of madness on this stretch of highway). I have seen officers driving up the highway but this does not have any effect whatsoever. What is needed especially with summer approaching is an all-out effort to stop this high-speed driving like the Ministry of Transport mounted to stop the same kind of driving through Darfield. — Yours, etc., ACTION PLEASE. September 29, 1975. [Mr A. I. Garriock, traffic' superintendent, Ministry of Transport, replies: “The Ministry of Transport officers ihave been enforcing the regulations regarding speed on State Highway 75 not only between Halswell Junction Road and Tai Tapu. but other parts of it as well. During recent months, 42 offences had been detected as a result of microwave checks on the i section mentioned. The Ministry is aware of the problems on this straight length of highway, particularly at week-ends, and is taking steps to increase enforcement accordingly. I cannot agree with your correspondent when he states that uniformed patrols are ineffective. The deterrent value is considerable and is sometimes better than the cure.”]