Speed Limit Raised On Open Road

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26963, 24 December 1948, Page 6

Speed Limit Raised On Open Road

PA WELLINGTON, Dec. 23. The present universal speed limit of 40 m.p.h. on the open road is being lifted to 50 m.p.h. from January 1. announced the Minister fo Transport, Mr. Hackett, to-day. The present 40 m.p.h. limit was introduced under the War Emergency Regulations, which expire on December 31, 1948, said the Minister. The new limit is being introduced in consequence of recent recommendations by the New Zealand Road Safety Council. The Minister said the 50 m.p.h. universal speed limit applied only to private cars and motor cycles and did not-affect the existing limits on heavy trade or passenger service vehicles. Similarly, specially restricted areas, such as built-up areas in which the limit was 30 m.p.h., were in no way altered. “ Common Danger ” Law Preferred “Motor unions will naturally be pleased that the Minister has increased the speed limit to 50 m.p.h. as from January 1,” said the president of the Automobile Association (Otago), Mr G. W. Ferens, in a statement to the Daily Times last night. “The unions have agitated for driving to the common danger to be made the offence, which was the law before the war, rather than raising the limit to 50 m.p.h.”, he said. “ The reason is that many motorists, unfortunately, have considered the 40 miles-an-hour speed restriction as the minimum, and no doubt the same argument will apply for the 50 m.p.h. limit, whereas if a motorist is driving to the common danger outside the built-up areas, there is no actual maximum speed limit outside this area, but his speed must be relative to the particular circumstances under which he is driving. “In other words, 30 m.p.h. may be dangerous on a main highway and a motorist can be apprehended for driving at such a speed and lie is not under the false belief that as he is driving under 50 m.p.h. he is within the law,” Mr Ferens said. “This method was perfectly satisfactory before the war."