SPEED ON HIGHWAYS

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 221, 29 August 1936, Page 6

SPEED ON HIGHWAYS

Validity 'Of Regulations Donated By Judge. INSTRUCTIONS TO JURY. Press Association —Copyright. ' PcilmeVstdn N., August 28. The validity of the 15 miles an hour speed regulation at intersections was challenged in the Supreme Court by Mr. Justice Blair during the hearing of a collision case in the Supreme Court today. In discussion with counsel reference was made to the fact that under regulation 15 a table of speeds was provided as constituting the maximum speed under various circumstances and it was further provided that where a person was charged under section 28 of the Motor Vehicles Act with driving at a speed that might be dangerous to the public proof that such person had exceeded any of the specified speeds was sufficient evidence that he had committed an offence.

His Honour said this purported to take away by regulation the well settled rule of law that no person guilty of an offence anil he was proved guilty.. Moreover, even if the regulation was valid it applied only in cases where a charge had been laid under section 28 for dangerous driving and no application to a civil action involving allegations of negligence. The only proper regulation for the Jury" to consider was that which laid down that no person should drive a motor vehicle' at a speoa greater than would enable ■it to be brought to a standstill within half the length of clear road visible immediately in front.