SPEED ON ROADS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22608, 22 December 1936, Page 10

SPEED ON ROADS

LOCAL RESTRICTIONS

PRACTICALLY ALL REMOVED ACTION BY MINISTER MOTORISTS' RESPONSIBILITIES [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON. Monday The Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Sempie, announced, to-day he has signed for gazetting to-morrow warrants which will have the effect of sweeping changes so far as local speed limits throughout New Zealand are concerned.

"As I stated at the outset of the Government's campaign for safer roads," said Mr. Sempie, "one of the first essentials appeared to be that traffic regulations should bo as simple as possible and uniform throughout the whole country. With this end in view the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 1986, was passed. Under powers provided in this Act I have had made a comprehensive examination of all speed restrictions at present in force under local body by-laws. To say the least of it the position was amazing. Innumerable speed limits, ranging from a walking pace to 25 miles an hour existed, and it was utterly impossible for the average motorist to bo even aware of his legal responsibilities as far as speeds were concerned.

Almost a Clean Sweep " I have made practically a clean sweep of the lot. All local by-law speed restrictions in New Zealand, save the following, have been disallowed by me to-day:— Auckland City.—2o-15 miles an hour in the Domain; 10 on Grafton Bridge. Devonport Borough.—lo miles an hour in the domain. Hamilton Borough.—lo miles an hour on the traffic bridge until repaired. JTutt County.—l2 miles an hour on beaches. Invercargill City.—2o miles an hour through domain to Oreti Beach. Lower Hutt Borough.—lo miles an hour on Melling Bridge. Timaru Borough.—lo miles an hour in Timaru Park. W aimea County.—Six miles an hour on light traffic bridges. Wellington City.—2o miles an hour in tunnels; 15-6 on the Hutt pipe bridge. ! " I would liko to take this opporj tunitv," said Mr. Semple, " of thanking the local authorities for their co- ! operation. I want the motorist to realise that the laws regarding negligent, dangerous or inconsiderate driving still apply and as to whether it will be necessary to re-enact some of the disallowed speed restrictions later depends wholly on the motorist himself. If he plays the game and drives with due consideration for others freedom from irksome restrictions will continue. The 30 Miles an Hour Limit " At the same time action has been taken to de-restrict from the statutory 30 miles an hour speed limit certain boroujfh approaches of rural nature. Included in this de-restriction is the stretch of the Hutt Road from the city boundary at Ngahauranga to the old Porirua Road at Kaiwarra and also various approaches to boroughs in the Auckland district. These de-restricted areas will all be indicated by the circular signs recently illustrated, a diagonal bar indicating the beginning of the de-restricted area and 30 the end of such area and the application of the 30 miles an hour speed limit. " The built-up portion of the Mount Roskill Road district has also been declared to be a closely populated locality and the effect will be to apply to the area (also to be indicated by signs) the statutory speed limit of 30 miles an hour." The Minister concluded by pointing out that in every borough and town district unless clearly indicated by the derestriction sign the 30 miles an hour speed restriction applied without exception. Unless there was a de-restriction sign a motorist must not drive faster than 30 miles an hour in any borough or town district.