SUSPENSION OF LICENSE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21970, 19 December 1936, Page 16

SUSPENSION OF LICENSE

Appeal by Motorist j Dismissed I i NEED FOR SPECIAL CAREi AT WEEK-ENDS (I'ItKSS ASSOCIATION TELEdeAM.) WELLINGTON, December 18. Emphasis was laid on the need for drivers of motor vehicles to exercise particular care at week-ends, by the Chief Justice (the Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Myers) in the Supreme Court to-day, when delivering an oral judgment in a case in which a motorist appealed from the decision of a magistrate suspending his license. "It is in the highest degree important," said his Honour, "that particular care should be taken by those who drive m.',tor vehicles at the week-end, because it is well known that at the week-ends there is a considerable amount of traffic, much more than usual, and one may expect to find cars out on those days which are not seen on the road on ordinary week days. Now in these conditions, according to the inspector, the appellant was driving his car in the middle of the road at a speed of about 50 miles an hour. According to the inspector, whose evidence I accept, for a distance of about 100 yards ahead there was no possibility of the appellant obtaining a place in the traffic which was moving southward to Wellington. "A person who drives in such a manner is travelling to the very serious danger of the public. He is looking for trouble, and it is in that way that a great many of the accidents happen which are the subject matter of litigation before the court here and elsewhere in New Zealand and before the courts on inferior jurisdiction. It is necessary that the tribunals should do all they can to insure reasonable safety to that section of the public that uses the roads and to the public generally. "Of course, every case has to be considered on its own merits, and in the light of its own facts. I do not for a moment suggest that any rigid rule should be laid down that every person who commits a breach of the motor regulations should have his license suspended, or that he should be punished in any particular way; but I do say that in a case of the kind which is now before me it is necessary to exercise the power which the court has of suspending the license of the offender. That is what the magistrate did, and I think he was right in doing so. The appeal is dismissed."