"OFF-SIDE" RULE.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 19391, 17 August 1928, Page 15

"OFF-SIDE" RULE.

HAWERA MOTORISTS PROSECUTED. (PMSS ASSOCIATIOir TELEGRAM.) HAWEEA, August 16. What is probably known as the "offside" rule for motorists was given prominence in the Hawera Court to-day, when a plea of guilty was entered to a charge against h a motorist of failing to observe Regulation 11 of the Motor Traffic Regulations, which provides that the driver of a motor vehicle when approaching an intersection must allow the right of way to any other vehicle approaching the intersection from the right-hand side. Counsel for defendant said the new rule was not yet generally known by motorists. ' It destroyed the old rule of traffic on a main route having the right of way. The Magistrate (Mr J. S. Barton): The Magistrate said he thought the new rule was a good one, as it disposed of the uncertainty as to action which might exist with the application of the oldrule when it might be difficult to decide which of the routes approaching an intersection was the mam one. He had observed the result ■or the new rule in Sydney and elsewhere and found it enables traffic to move at a greater speed and with greater safety, than under the old rule. . As the case was the first of its .kind, the Magistrate entered a conviction without penalty. . Another defendant on a similar charge pleaded not guilty. The police called evidence of a collision in the middle of the town, allegedly as the result of defendants failure to observe the regulation. When the police case closed, defendant's counsel (Mr A. A. Stewart) raised a technical point, saying tne regulations referred to drivers of motor vehicles "approaching any intersection, the traffic at which is not for the time being controlled by a police officer or traffic inspector," etc.. Counsel submitted that the information must be dismissed, as the police had not produced evidence that the Particular intersection was not so controlled. The Magistrate intimated that no would give a written decision.