C.M.U.A. REPRESENTATIONS ON STEAMER SPEED LIMITS
Page 45
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Fr HE. Commercial Motor Users Asso
ciation has made representations to the Minister of Transport regarding the amending of the regulations concerning the marking of the speed limit on steam vehicles. The Minister has promised that consideration will be given to this point in the course of the consolidation of the regulations, which the Ministry is now undertaking.
It appears that there are three regulations referring to the speed limit of steam vehicles. Regulation 10 of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Regulations, 1931, provides that a vehicle registered before January 1, 1932, having a maximum laden weight not exceeding 14 tons, shall have a maximum speed with or without a trailer of 1'2 m.p.h. The first schedule of the Road Traffic Act, 1934, provides that a heavy motorcar not drawinga trailer shall be subject to a 20 m.p.h. speed limit, with a maximum laden weight of 12 tons, whilst Regulation No. 88 of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations (1931) reqnires that the maximuni speed of the vehicle when
not drawing a trailer shall be marked on the machine.
Difficulties have arisen in cases where hauliers have been prosecuted for not marking the speed limit correctly on their vehicles. It is possible to be prosecuted whichever marking is adopted if at one time the vehicle be of a laden weight approaching 14 tons, and the vehicle be driven at a speed not exceeding 12 m.p.h., and, at another time, when the laden weight does not exceed 12 tons awl no trailer is being drawn, the machine be driven at a speed up to 20 m.p.h.
The C.M.U.A. has also requested the Home Office to consider the position with a view to the issuing of uniform instructions which would enable operators to 'mark their vehicles in compliance with the law. As a result, a circular has been sent to the chief officers of police explaining what appears to be the correct position with regard to the marking of steamers re-' gistered before January 1, 1932. and asking them to give _effect to the intention of Regulation 10 of the Construction and Use Regulations.