TRAFFIC CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 109, 1 February 1930, Page 10

TRAFFIC CONTROL

THE NEW REGULATIONS MODEL SET PROPOSED CONFERENCE TO BE HELD Convened by the Minister of Transport (Hon. W. A. Veitch), a conference of representatives of ail interests concerned will be held in Wellington before the end of February to compile a model set of motor regulations, designed to ensure practical observance. The conference will cover all phases of the regulations dealing with motor traffic, and will be attended by representatives of motor Interests, local authorities, automobile clubs, the Police Department, and the Transport Department. Suggestions Invited. In November last the Transport Department circularised local bodies and others interested inviting them to forward suggestions for the amendment, curtailment, or addition of the Motor Vehicle Regulations, 1928, and proposals for the improvement of the motor lorry regulations. Many replies have been received by the Commissioner of Transport (Mr. J. S. Hunter), and these are now being sorted out and classified, as a preliminary to the preparation of an agenda for the conference this month. It will be the alm of the conference to produce, as a replacement to the present regulations, such a set as can be rigidly and universally enforced. Speed Limits. As the question of speed limits will be a live issue before the conference interest attaches to the observations on the subject passed by the Minister In a recent circular to all local bodies. Mr. Veitch pointed out that the regulations made provision for the fixing of local speed limits by local body bylaws, being absolute limits as against those fixed by the table of speeds in the regulations, breach of which did not itself constitute an offence if the driver were able to prove factors which made the speed a safe one. “The requirements for the fixing of local 'speed limits do not seem to be clearly understood by many local bodies,” the Minister added, “and as a result prosecutions for breaches of them have often failed. These requirements are laid down by the regulations, and may be summarised as follow: —(1) The local speed limit may not exceed that laid down In the table of speeds; (2) whether the by-law or other authority was in force before or after the regulations a copy of It must be sent to the Minister, together with a sketch plan or map of the locality showing the position of the signs of Class D; (3) signs of Class' D under the regulations must be erected as prescribed and the signs must strictly conform to the requirements of that regulation: (4) failure to comply with any of the above requirements renders any prosecution liable to be upset on a technicality. Uniform Systems Needed. “In general it may be stated that the only justifications for local speed limits are that certain roads require protection against speeds in excess of the proposed limit, and that dangers exist against which the regulation table of speeds'does not provide a sufficient safeguard. “The desirability of having a uniform system for determining speed limits throughout the Dominion is obvious both from the local bodies’ point of view and that of the road user, and it is hoped to have the co-operation of all local authorities in seeing that these provisions of the motor vehicle regulations are complied with. This co-operation is sought particularly in the removal of the many out-of-date and unnecessary speed limit and other signs which are still prevalent. These are quite useless for the purpose of supporting prosecutions, and result in confusion and considerable non-observance of the authorised signs. Submission of By-laws. “In order to encourage a complete observance by road users of the" signs that will be decided upon, it is proposed to gazette periodically for public information a list showing relative details of by-laws forwarded by local bodies in terms of the regulation. “It is recognised that local bodies are empowered to pass the relative by-law before its submission to the Government, but it is suggested that the practice which has already been adopted by some, namely, that the by-law be submitted in draft form to the Minister of Transport before being passed, could with advantage be followed by all local bodies in future. In cases when the by-law is not concurred in, this course, if followed, would eliminate unnecessary expense to local bodies in the alteration or removalof signs and amendment of by-laws.”