New Britain herald., 1929-12-16
STATE ID INSTALL
 SPEED LIMIT SIGNS
Experiment With Traffic to Be
 Made in Strati0rd

An experiment in motor vehicle speed regulation which, eventually may affect every town in Clnnec- ticut having a heavy traffic high way running through thickly settled communities, is to be conducted in Stratford, the authorities of that town and the state motor vehicle department announced today. The tryout of the plan is also made possible by the cooperation Of the state highway department.
 Speed limits will be established in conformity with conditions along the Boston post road within the limits of Stratford. Prominently dis played signs will designate the min imum speeds which are considered safe speeds for certain sections un- der normal conditions. Enforcement will be under the direction of the town police and the new regula- tions are expected to be in force within a week.
 Decisions. as to the proper speeds result from a careful survey Ot tral- tc on this hiwhway at all hours of the day. This survey will continue with the experiment and the speeds first established may be sub ject to change.
 Stoecikcl Discusses Speed Law
 The policy under which the eXper- iment is to be carried out has been outlined by Robbins B. Stoeckel, commissioner of motor vehicles, and all authorities agree that the eXperl- ment will not be conducted as an en- forcement trap for motorists. All cases will be considered with req condolences and common sense.
 The Connecticut law regarding speed" says Commissioner Stoeck el," specifics that any motorist may drive at a speed which is reasonable for the conditions in the locality where he is operating. The question of what is reasonable is necessarily first determined by the motoriSt hln- self in the exercise of judgment as to how fast he ought to go under COnulllOilS WHICH tOllI OliJ lilIii' iAt is not the final authority in this de- termination, however, for it will be apparent that other people might not agree with him in his decisions, and might think he ought to go either faster or slower than he him. self determilcs is right. If this was found to be the opinion of the town officer charged with enforcement of the motor vehicle act, it is entirely reasonable that it might result in the punishment of the operator
 Tt is, of course. not fair if that town officer, or any town officer, should insist on their determinations along the lines suggested unless the motorist is warned as to what he may and may not expect. It is along the line of this duty to warn the motorist that the town of Stratford has now established what it's au- thoriticS think are reasonable speed limits at which mtotor vehicles may travel under certain conditions in their town. Thes speeds considered reasonable by their town authorl- ties will be designated by signs prominently displayed along the highway, and enforcement under them will be as strict as the town authorities desire, and they can force the travelling public to con- ply with their regulations"
 New Warning Signs
 The first signs set up will be at the town borders and will warn motorists that reasonable speed will be demanded under normal condi- tons. This speed will be indicated by other signs along the highway, at varying intervals. The first sign will read: "Warning-Signs indicate reasonable hpeed under normal con- ditions." The signs stating the speed limit will read 25, or as the case may be. 30 miles per hour. All signs will be standard to conform with those accepted for use by the state highway department and will be in black letters on a white background.
 Every feature of the experiment is to be watched closely by those cooperating and, if it is successful, the state department will offer their cooperation to other towns in help inc- to solve similar DrOb1ams