DANGEROUS MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 268, 6 August 1920, Page 10

DANGEROUS MOTORING

TEACHEE AND PUPIL FJTED. Mr. J. S. Evans. S.M.. delivered his reserved judgment in the Magistrates Court yesterday in the case Police v. Kempton and X)e Erneste. The defendants were charged with driving a motor'ear in Molesworth Street in , a manner dangerous to the. public, "laving regard to all the circumstances of the case, in. eluding tho nature, condition, and use of tho highway, and the amount of traf* fio which actually was at the time or which might reasonably be espccted to be on the highway." The charge was laid under the Motor Regulation Act, 1908. De Ernes'.e is a competent driver, and Kempton was at the time lenrning to drive. There was little traffic in tho street at the time. One cart was in froiit of the motor-car; and another was coinhiß towards the car, but it turned out of the street. Kempton. who was driving, was watching this cart, and had not drawn out -o pass the cart ahead. Do Erneste, seeing tho danger, took hold of tho wheel and tried to swerve the car to tho right, but was 100 late. The car struck tho wheel of tho cart with such force a 6 to knock tho horse down and throw the driver to the ground. Kempton blamed De Erneste for interfering with the wheel, while De Erneste stated that the car was travelling at about ten miles per hour, and that Kempton had left it too late to swine out. The Magistrate held that Ue accident was caused by the unskilful driving of Kempton, and said that the fact that this accident happened through want of skill in a practically clear streot showed that tho car was being driven in a manner dangerous to tho public. Kempton was convicted, and Do Ernesto, though a skilful driver, was also con-, victed on the ground '-hat lie was a principal"party in aiding mid abetting Kompton in driving in a manner dangerous to the public. Kempton was fined £2 and costs, and Do Erneste £i and costs. Mr. P. W. Jackson appeared for the defendants.