A CLEAN SWEEP

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20607, 22 December 1936, Page 8

A CLEAN SWEEP

LOCAL SPEED LIMITS UNIFORM RATE IMPOSED By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, December 21. The Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Transport, announced to-day that he had signed for Gazetting on Tuesday warrants which would effect sweeping changes so far as local speed limits throughout New Zealand were concerned. “As I stated at the outset of the Government’s campaign for safer roads,” said Mr Semple, “one of the first essentials appeared to be that traffic regulations should be as simple as possible and uniform throughout the whole country. With this end in view the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 1936, was passed. Under the powers provided in this Act, I have had made a comprehensive examination of all speed restrictions at present in force under local body by-laws. To say the least of it, the position was amazing. Innumerable speed limits ranging from a walking pace to 25 miles an hour existed, and it was utterly impossible for the average motorist to be even aware of the legal responsibilities as fas as speeds were concerned. I have made practically a clean sweep of the lot. All local by-law speed restrictions in New Zealand save the following have been disallowed by me to-day. “Auckland City—2o-15m.ph. in the Domain, 10 Grafton Bridge. “Devenport Borough—lo in Domain. “Hamilton Borough—lo traffic bridge until repaired. “Hutt County—l2 on beaches. “Invercargill City—2o through Domain to Oreti Beach. “Lower Hutt Borough—lo Melling Bridge. “Timaru Borough—lo Timaru Park. "Waimea County—Six on light traffic bridges. “Wellington City—2o in tunnels, 15-6 Hutt Pipe Bridge. Restrictions in Some Areas “I would like to take this opportunity,” said Mr Semple, of thanking the local authorities for their co-operation. I want the motorist to realise that the laws regarding negligent, dangerous, or inconsiderate driving still apply, and as to whether it will be necessary to re-enact some of the disallowed speed restrictions later depends wholly on the motorist himself. If he plays the game and drives with due consideration for others, freedom from irksome restrictions will continue. At the same time action has been taken to de-restrict from the statutory 30 m.p.h. speed limit certain borough approaches of a rural nature. Included in this de-restrlctions is the stretch of the Hutt Road from the city boundary at NgahaUranga to the old Porirua Road at Kaiwarra, and also various approaches to boroughs in the Auckland district. These de-restricted areas will all be Indicated by circular signs recently illustrated, a diagonal bar indicating the beginning of derestricted area and 30 the end of such area and the application of the 30 m.p.h. speed limit. The built up portion of the Mt. Roskill Road district has also been declared to be a closely populated locality, and the effect will be to apply to the area (also to be indicated by signs), the statutory speed limit of 30 m.p.h.” The Minister concluded by pointing out that in every borough and town district, unless clearly indicated by the de-restriction sign, the 30 m.p.h. speed restriction applied without exception. “Unless there is a de-restriction sign,” said Mr Semple, "the motorist must not drive faster than 30 m.p.h. in any borough or town district.”