HEAVY MOTOR VEHICLES

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 February 1932, Page 2

HEAVY MOTOR VEHICLES

REGULATIONS GAZETTED.

[PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, February 17

Provision is made under the Heavy Motor Vehicle Regulations, permitting any controlling authority to prohibit absolutely or conditionally the use on any road of heavy motor vehicles during any specified periods, but it is stipulated that this power must be used in a reasonable manner.

No one will be permitted to operate a traction engine, or metal-tired heavy motor vehicle, unless consent is obtained from the controlling authority.

All heavy motor vehicles are classified according to the maximum load, and the Minister of Public Works (in respect of any Government road), the Main Highways Board (in respect of any main highway under its con trol), and the local authority having control of any other road or main highway (in respect of such road) are empowered- to classify the roads, according to their availability for' use:

Maximum speeds are also fixed The limit in the case of heavy motor vehicles, which are motor-cars, or motor-omnibuses, within the meaning of the Motor Vehicles Act, is 35 miles per hour. Where the maximum gross weight ranges from two to three tons, the limit is progressively reduced as the maximum gross weight increases, and is 20 miles per hour for vehicles in the six and a-half to fifteen tons classes. It is stipulated that these limits « shall apply tn vehicles, all the tyres of which are pneumatic. The limit in the case of other heavy motor vehicles, all the tyres of which are pneumatic, vary from 25 miles per hour for those in the two to four and a-half tons classes, to J 5 yiiles per hour for those in the six and a-half to 15 tons classes. The limit in the case of heavy motor vehicles, any tyre of which is solid rubber, is 12 miles per hour, and when any tyre is metal, the limit is 8 miles per hour. Th© maximum speed is reduced by 50 per cent., for vehicles which are unsprung.