SPEED DETECTION: DEPARTMENT’S METHODS DEFENDED

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 March 1950, Page 7

SPEED DETECTION: DEPARTMENT’S METHODS DEFENDED

WELLINGTON, March 30 (P.A.). —The way in which the micro-wave speed indicator is used in the drive against speeding by heavy’ motorvehicles was defended today by the Commissioner of Transport (Mr G. L. Laurenson), replying to the remarks, of Mr S. S. Preston, S.M., at Hawera. The micro-wave indicator was used only to detect speeding by heavy vehicles, Mr Laurenson said.. Since July last more than 200 tickets had been issued for this offence, and there had been something like 144 prosecutions in the North Island. There had been no criticism by magistrates, even though in a large number of these prosecutions tickets had not been issued to offenders till some time after the offence. Mr Laurenson said that if an offender were stopped immediately the offence was committed the location of the micro-wave equipment would immediately become known to other truck drivers, who would tend to adjust their speeds while passing the indicator. In fact, the equipment would become largely ineffective in checking the speeds of these vehicles. Subject to these considerations, the department made every effort to get tickets into the hands of offenders as soon as possible, though where trucks came from outside the district there might be some days’ interval between the offence and the receipt of a ticket. Because of the damage being done to roads by fast heavy traffic the department had found it necessary to use other than the usual methods for detecting offenders. New Zealanders paid £10,000,000 a year for their roads. Heavy vehicles were in the hands of professional drivers in most cases, or men who spent much of their working time driving. They were well aware of the speed restriction of 30 miles an hour on heavy vehicles. These experienced drivers became aware immediately an inspector was checking them, and, during 1948, for instance, there were only 161 convictions for speeding by heavy trucks in the whole of New Zealand.

When the micro-wave indicator was demonstrated nearly a year ago, it was seen by magistrates, representatives of operators’ and drivers’ organisations, the press, and others. There was general agreement that it was necessary to do something to control speeding by heavy trucks, and that the use of the indicator was reasonable. After the demonstration the equipment was used throughout the North Island for more than two months, and many warnings were issued before it was used for evidence in courts.