MOTOR BYLAWS

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 115, 12 November 1917, Page 6

MOTOR BYLAWS

SPEEDS AND PARKING

A number of questions of interest to motorists were discussed by a deputation from the Wellington Automobile Club which waited upon the Bylaws Committee of the City Council last week. The deputation comprised Messrs. C. M. Banks, L. R, Partridge, H. W. Lloyd, and H. J. Stott. The principal request was for a revision of the speed limit of motor traffic at street intersections. Not one motorist' in a hundred, it was stated, observed the speed limit when going along Courtenay-place across Torystreet, and the police were now taking proceedings in about eighty cases against motorists for exceeding the speed limit in this locality. Observing the speed limits, the deputation urged, a motorist would drive from Lambton-quay to Kent-terrace at about eight miles an hour, since there were so many streets intersections on the route. It was suggested that the traffic on the main street had the .right of way, and it was the duty of motorists coming from side streets to see that the way was clear before passing into the main street. On the main street motorists should be allowed to travel at ordinary speeds across intersections.

Councillor Norwood asked if the club had fixed what, in its opinion, would be the most controllable speed for a motor-car.

Mr. 0. M. Banks replied that they had not had the matter under discussion, but he would suggest from 12 to 15--miles an hour. At Grey-street crossing or the intersection of where there was a fair amount of traffic, speed might be reduced to twelve miles an hour, and to six miles an hour round corners. The members of the deputation complained that tramcars did not reduce their speed when crossing side streets, and that the trams were responsible for a lot of the speeding up by motorists, since a motorist driving in front of a tramca'r had to keep in front to avoid being jammed in a narrow part of the thorough- - fare.

Another question referred to related to parking -places for private cars. The club wished to see the numbei of such" places increased. There were many parts of the_ city where motors might be parked without inconvenience to business, people-or interruption of the traffic. Cars were inoreasing in numbei-, and the number of motor-parks should be increased also. It was stated further that the notice boards erected at these places were misleading. The Chairman (Councillor Barber) informed, the deputation that the boards were shortly to be done away with, as they were considered eyesores, and in place of them lettering would be let intc the pavement to indicate the parks. Councillor Barber further thanked the. depuation for the representations, which', he said, would receive every consideration. ■ He pointed out that it was necessary to have some fairly stringent reguations for the control of traffic in Wellington, as the majority of the streets were narrow. The administration was in the hands of the Police Departmen, under an arrangement made with the council The law in regard to the matter provided that speed limits must be reasonable and if the council imposed too harsh a restriction on speed the regulation was liable to be declared ultra vires The .Minister for Internal Affairs, he understood, had the question of uniform speed regulations in hand, and he hoped! •,j I 0 reasonable arrangements would be mads throughout the country. J