Show Speed Rule Confused As Death Mounts V Maximum Limit Sig Signs s Remain on n Highways y x H Although New Statutes Are Now Effective i Editors Editor's note Utah highways are becoming more hazardous instead of safer with deaths increasing Wh Why This is is' is one of ofa a series of articles By BOB non HALE With traffic deaths mounting day by day In Utah Utah 24 24 in the thelast thelast thelast last 23 days days days- days confusIon confusion exists In control of speed regarded as a major factor in most accident ex ex- ex- ex The situation The state highway patrol bases Its enforcement on new laws that were effective July 1 raising speed limits The same speed limit signs that were placed long ago under the theold theold theold old law The state road commission Is empowered to Impose whatever limits it sees es fit on the basis of engineering studies but has made no move In this direction Confusing to Tourists The situation observers said particularly Is confusing to the thousands of tourists who use Utah highways and they pointed out one purpose of ot the new traffic traffic fic tic code was to make mate Utah laws uniform with national practices in the interest of tourists Alth Although ugh the new code fixes prima facie fade speed limits of 60 miles an hour In daytime and 50 I miles an hour at night the old I mile hour speed limit signs I that were placed under the for for- forI I I mer men law still are In place on maJor majar major ma ma- jor jar highways Attorney General Grover A. A Giles has held that the signs that do not c conform with the new code may be disregarded The opinion also pointed out that the road commission Is empowered to impose other speed limits In any section where engineering studies show them then advisable Work on Assumption Under this power It was pointed out the commission could proclaim proclaim proclaim pro pro- claim mile 50 limits In force where there are such signs In the absence of such an order apparently apparently apparently the new limits are In force and the highway patrol makes speeding arrests on this assumption assumption assumption tion It was learned R. R Whitney Groo patrol superintendent superintendent superintendent super super- said that speeding has figured In some of ot the recent fa fa- a- a The patrol policy polley he explained is to enforce speeding restrictions under the new law regarding 60 as the daytime maximum and 50 the nighttime limit on open high high- ways He said that nominally the driver Is given some leeway A driver doing not more inane than 6 65 miles an hour on an open highway highway highway high high- way in daytime if conditions are safe may receive a warning tick tick- et For or higher thaI he will receive an arrest ticket All AH Wa Ways 8 He pointed out the prima facie fade speed law works all ways that a driver always must drive at a reasonable and prudent speed according to highway con con- He urged drivers to remember this provision making allowance for turns grades congestions of traffic and other conditions A tour on two major highway systems by an observer showed the apparent effect of the confusion con con- fusion Driving north on U. U S. S 91 to a point opposite Bountiful and back the observer found varying speeds Some Borne motorists apparently understanding understanding un un- the new law traveled traveled trav tray at as much as 70 miles an hour seemingly safely Others driving In the center lanes which ordinarily are regarded as the fast lanes loped along at 50 miles an hour obeying the old signs I Similar conditions were noted on U. U S. S 50 west of ot Salt Lake City to the Magna Garfield area INJURED IN FALL Mrs Jessie Magginetti 90 Tenth avenue was taken to L D S hospital for observation Friday after suffering apparently slight hurts in m a fall at her home 2 |