REPORTING OF ACCIDENTS

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25913, 20 September 1949, Page 3

REPORTING OF ACCIDENTS

UNUSUAL DUNEDIN CASE (Neto Zealand Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Sept. 19. Whether a motorist who is the sole occupant of a car involved in an accident in which no other car is concerned is bound under Section 5 of the Motor Vehicles Act, as amended by Section 56 of the Transport Licensing Amendment Act, 1948, to report the accident to the police within 24 hours of its occurrence, was argued before Mr J. D. Willis, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. It was stated that this was the first time the point had been raised. The Magistrate reserved his decision. The delendant pleaded not guilty, although the facts were admitted. Evidence was given by a constable, who said he had interviewed the defendant concerning an accident in Butcher’s Gully. Alexandra, on July 9. He told the witness that he did not think it was necessary for him to report the accident as he was the only person in the car at the Mr L. K. Stewart, for defendant, said this section of the act did not apply in such circumstances The defendant was the only person involved. The section under which the charge had been brought provided that when an accident occurred in which another car was involved a motorist had to stop and render whatever assistance was required. In this case he would nave had to render assistance to himself. It would he equally ridiculous for a driver to have to report to the police that he had received shock as the result of an accident. The section had been framed to deal with hit-and-run drivers.