REVISION NEEDED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 281, 26 November 1931, Page 5

REVISION NEEDED.

Speed of Motorists on Country Roads.

INSPECTOR’S STATEMENT. \ A Magistrate’s opinion that forty miles an hour was a safe speed on the Marshland Road caused a brisk discussion at last night’s meeting of the Waimairi County Council. “ I think it is wrong,” said Mr J. Cleland, “that a Magistrate, who should uphold the county’s by-laws, should make such a statement.” The inspector (Mr M’Gee) said be agreed that there were parts of Marshland Road that were safe for forty miles an hour. In view of the Magistrate’s views, it would be foolish to bring any similar cases. He submitted the following statement: “After several years of traffic control on main highways within the county of Waimairi, it now appears to me an opportune time to revise our speed restrictions, and in lieu thereof I would recommend that the Government speed restrictions, as defined in the ‘ Motor Vehicle Regulations, 1928,’ be adopted as a whole; and, further, I would suggest that, unless a motorist is actually driving in a manner or at a speed that is to the danger of the public, no action be taken. I feel that to take action against a motorist who commits a technical breach of a by-law or regulation by exceeding a speed limit is a wrong interpretation of the regulations, and an ineffective practice making road travelling tedious in the extreme.” Mr Spencer supported the inspector. He considered that between Briggs’s Road and Chaney’s forty miles an hour was a reasonable speed. The chairman (Mr W. J. Walter) : W hat about people coming out of gates? Messrs Scott and Gardner supported the higher speed limit. Mr Chapman asked what was the use of having inspectors. They might as well be dispensed with.

On the motion of Mr Spencer, the inspector’s recommendation was adopted.