HUTT ROAD SPEED-LIMIT

NZ Truth, Issue 1127, 7 July 1927, Page 16

HUTT ROAD SPEED-LIMIT

Minimum Rate of Travel Should Be Fixed

Oiir suggestion that overtaking should be prohibited on Wellington* only outlet, the Hutt Road, and that a minimum ; speed \ Unlit be fixed as well as a maximum one, has been widely com-, mented upon by local motorists, and we have not yet heard any adverse criticisms. , :

r seems to be agreed that the danger on this road is due, not to excessive speeds, but to risky overtaking on: the bitumen strip. , Horse traffic is already confined to the sides of the road, and is not allowed on the bitur men. If all other slow traffic was transferred to the edge also it seems that the road would be rendered almost "foolproof."' This, at any rate, is the opinion of those regular users of the road to whom we have referred' the matter. ; The owners of the bus services seem to find no difficulties m the. way; and indeed their time-tables indicate that they find no difficulty; m keeping up to a thirty miles an hour 1 speed average. ' ■' • ' , ' ./" "There are very few. buses on the Hutt Road services which are not capable of fifty miles an hour if pushed," said a well-known bus proprietor to L us on this subject. "Any Hutt Valley resident who was a regular^ user of the road," said a prominent city business man, "would soqn hear about it from, his friends- if he made a practice of lagging behind the minimum limit, even if he was not tackled by the traffic policeman. ir We'_d 'soon bring him up to scratch." -One: complaint which several motorists made referred to the use of the road for instructing novices.v It is,' of course, rather tempting from this point of view, because it provides a good surface, is free from hills and cross roads, and wide; bu*. m view of the fast traffic which it carries it is dangerous to take novices on to it, unless they keep off the bitumen. Another complaint, and one which weithink is justified, is the- use. of. the bitumen when changing. tyres and carrying out minor adjustments. -.. ' .;'■■•■' The traffic officer does his best to discourage this, but the commonsense of motorists should teach them to get as near to the side of the road as p'osr sible when doing work of this "nature. The' opinions 1 of those who should "THE TRUTH IS ALWAYS THE STRONGEST ARGUMENT. 1 ' Truth is the only argument needed to convince you of the emcacy of Baxter's Liing Preserver. As a remedy fbr 3pughs, colds, sore throatsi bronchitis, md all chest and lung troubles, it has stood supreme for over sixty. years. "Baxter's" 'is . a splendid tonic, tot/ bracing up the system and enabling you to resist colds more readily. Half-a-crown secures a generoussized fbottle • of "Baxter's" at any 3hemist's or store, or, better still, * set the large economical size at 4s. 6d. a bottle,* , ■ ; v\ . •;_••■■... ;, \

I best be able to judge, the regular users of the roads, seem to be all. m favor of "N.Z. Truth's" suggestion of a minimum speed, arid it would be well if the Automobile Club and other bodies. concerned were to I6ok into the matter to see what can' be done. . We believe that something of the kind would make for additional safety. " The whole position needs, to be carefully reviewed, of course, before steps are. taken .to give such regulations the might and majesty of Law. In the meantime, we commend the idea to the consideration of; those whose business it is to protect the interests >of. motorists arid to see that every means are taken to; ensure the safety of road users.