Speed limits

Press, 2 May 1984, Page 14

Speed limits

Sir,—My distrust of the elitist philosophy of “defensive driving” is endorsed by the advocacy by Major Bill Jamieson, the Council’s president, of a lOOkm/h maximum because “a higher speed limit, rather than encourage faster driving, would legalise the status quo.” The argument that driving at 80km/h “often held up traffic, and this led to frustration, dangerous overtaking, and more accidents” can only mean that the frustrated, dangerouslyovertaking killer must be catered for. The “status quo” argument, applied to criminal behaviour generally, would have us believe that easing up on burglars and rapists would make them better citizens. Major Jamieson must also advocate 62.5km/h in built-up areas. I frustrate hundreds of drivers a week by observing the 50km/h limit in Christchurch. I found no frustration in keeping to 40km./h in Los Angeles streets, where enforcement is respected, and no voluminous “road code” is considered necessary. — Yours, etc., VARIAN J. WILSON. April 30, 1984.