NEW SPEED LAWS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 274, 9 February 1928, Page 11

NEW SPEED LAWS

MOTORISTS COMPLAIN IMPOSSIBLE REGULATIONS “TREATED LIKE MENTAL CASES” “Ridiculous,” and “Impossible to observe,” were some of fhe strong protests levelled against the speed limits in the proposed Government motor regulations at last evening’s meeting of the Auckland Automobile Association. As one member put it, "We may as well not motor at all as try to under these regulations.” ANOTHER suggestion is that, if " rv these regulations are put into force, the motorists of Auckland should endeavour to uphold them to the letter—this, it was stated, would have only one result—utter confusion in traffic. The regulations objected to are those which are expected to be Gazetted at an early date. The limits proposed are as follow: Maximum speed anywhere, 35 m.p.h. Twenty-five miles within the limits of any borough or town district. Fifteen miles when passing schools, hospitals and at intersections; also when passing buses or trams. Ten miles in tunnels and when passing safety zones; also when going round curves where visibility is under 40 feet. The consensus of opinion among members of the Council of the A.A.A. is that no motorist could drive any distance without either breaking these laws or causing hopeless traffic congestion. The regulations are absolutely ridiculous, as no man can comply with these speeds,” said Mr. G. Henning. “It seems that motorists are treated as mental cases rather than as men of ordinary common sense.” The association, representing nearly 6,000 members, decided to telegraph to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Public Works, and local members of Parliament, urging that, as the proposed regulations are unworkable, every effort be made to revise them. The secretary of the association, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, has been instructed to proceed to Wellington, when necessary, to make strong representations to the proper quarter.