TO CHECK SPEEDING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 103, 3 May 1930, Page 8

TO CHECK SPEEDING

A MOTORIST’S OPINION POLICE SHOULD REGISTER DRIVERS. Discussing with a “Chronicle” reporter yesterday the Wanganui City Council’s decision to fix a 25 miles an hour speed limit on a section of Heads Road, a motorist praised this action. He contended, however, that a trap set any hour of the night, or in the early mornings, would catch offenders against the negligence clauses of the Afotor Vehicles Act, notwithstanding the fact that local restrictions signs were not up. Prima facie negligence was established if a car was proved to be doing over 35 miles an hour. “There is a suggestion I want to make about this motoring and speeding problem,” the motorist proceeded. “Why is control not vested in the police entirely They administer a portion of tho Alotor Vehicles Act. They prosecute under it, but the very important matter of registration of drivers is left to local bodies. If the police were given this responsibility the driving tests would be tightened up ’very considerably. There are too many people abroad in charge of cars to-day who should have perambulators to look after instead. I don’t refer to women when I say that, but men—youths most of them, who, for no other reason than that taey do not know the power at their command, and the danger it is, use it without thinking.. They kill somebody and feel terribly sorry for it. It is better to be sure than sorry.” Proceeding, ho spoke of the suggestion that a governor, or speed curtailing contrivance, be fitted to every motor vehicle imported into the Dominion. He agreed with this, but urged that, failing its adoption, the police should be given absolute authority to administer the Alotor Vehicles Act from registration upward.,. “There need be no change in the purpose to which the moneys collected are put,” he said. “If the roads arc to benefit as they do at present, let that continue. If the peace rake in the fines let the local body in which the vehicles arc registered get the benellt.. What 1 would like io sec is uniform control and more thorough testing of drivers.”

He quoted cases which he had come in contact with in Auckland. Wouldbe drivers had applied to the Auckland City Council x or licenses and had been refused, probably on account of nervousness in traffic. Nothing daunted, many of these had gone to neignouring Town Boards where, in consequence of less traffic, they had passed muster. They boasted then of having “put one over” tho Auckland Council. “What would have happened had the police been in charge?” he asked. The test would have been the same whether it took place in Auckland City or in Epsom.