SPEED TRAPS FOR MOTORS

Taranaki Daily News, 8 August 1930, Page 14

SPEED TRAPS FOR MOTORS

AN ORGANISED CAMPAIGN. (By Wire —Special to News.) Auckland, Aftg. 6. “The number of motorists prosecuted in Auckland for speeding, through city council ‘speed traps’ is between 300 and 400. annually,” said Mr. G. R. Hogan, chief - traffic inspector.” - There are 13G traps in regular use in and round the city, and each day some of them..are in operation.” " Mr. Hogan said the speed limit through towns and . boroughs was 25 miles an hour, according to the .motor regulations, but the city: council officers allowed a certain margin before proceeding against a motorist. The margin depended on the amount of traffic in . the vicinity at the time, road conditions and the locality. ' The majority of the motorists prosecutedTiad been driving at 38 to 50 miles an hour, but in several, cases motor-cyclists had been timed at 70 miles an hour and more. The traps used by the Auckland, City Council traffic department are of two kinds, the trap on the bend and the straight trap, both of which require two officers for their operation. All the traps are . over carefully, surveyed distances ctf 440 yards and have been marked- off by competent authorities. The stop watches used by the officers.are frequently tested by watchmakers to ensure their accuracy, and if there is any difference between the times registered by two watches after a motorist has been timed through a trap the driver 'is always given the benefit of the doubt.