Judge’s Warning On Intersections

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29742, 8 February 1962, Page 12

Judge’s Warning On Intersections

It was necessary for drivers to slow down when approaching intersections and exercise particular care because of the large number of rightangled intersections in and about the city that gave drivers limited visibility, said Mr Justice Richmond in the Supreme Court yesterday. "One of the greatest problems confronting motorists in Christchurch is the number of right-angled, or near right-angle, crossroads with a very limited view on the approaches to these intersections.** his Honour said. “In my view. Christchurch In tha- respect places the motorist in a more difficult situation than in any other city In New Zealand. From this point of view the motorist must exercise particular care when approaching these intersections and must adjust his speed to the circumstances." His Honour was giving his decision tn an appeal by a young man against a conviction to the Magistrate's Court on a charge of driving at a speed which was dangerous The appellant had been involved in a collision with another motor-vehicle at the intersection of Ferry road and Barbadoes streets

"When there is evidence of excessive speed on the part of a motorist at intersections of the type I have mentioned it seems to me that the authorities will be well warranted in putting forward a charge of driving at a speed which might be dangerous rather than some lesser charge, sueh as driving without due care and attention." his Honour said. He said that the mandatory penalty upon conviction on a charge of dangerous driving was a minimum period if disqualification of one year. He said that he had made these remarks so that his attitude towards the particu-

Ur type of motoring offence could be known publicly.

“It is one of the most serious types of motoring offence under the conditions which prevail for motorists in this city,*’ his Honour said, again referring to the large number of intersections which gave motorists only a limited view of cross traffic

During the hearing, his Honour made the comment that, in his view, a safe speed to approach many of the right-angled intersections in the city was between 15 miles an hour and 20 miles an hour.

“That is my experience as « motorist Frequently when slewing to what I consider to be a safe speed to approach an intersection, I have glanced at the speedometer and found it to be between 20 miles an hour and 15 miles an hour.’*