MOTORING MISHAPS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 85, 5 January 1926, Page 4

MOTORING MISHAPS

POLICE INQUIRIES.

Several minor motor accidents which have occurred in Palmerston North and the surrounding district recently have been reported to the central police, in most cases some days after the smash has taken place. Fortunately few mishaps have been attended by injury to passengers, and in several instances but for these responsible reporting their misfortunes to the police they would have gone unnoticed. Although the police are not concerned with accidents in which no injury is sustained by the occupants of the cars, there is naturally a feeling on the part of the police that such collisions might have been caused by an infringement of one of the numerous by-laws with which motorists are expected to acquaint themselves. Accordingly “a follow-up” inquiry ensues, with the result that the man who was at the wheel sometimes fimts himself in receipt of a summons. It is, hoWever, for the safeguarding of life and limb and the protection of other motorists that such proceedings are taken. They are not, as many people persuade themselves to believe, undertaken to occupy the time of a busv bodv of police officers. Motorists on the Palmerston-Wood ville road witnessed two unusual motor accidents on Monday. In the first instance a car in endeavouring to aroid a heavy motor wagon coming on to the road at the Ashhurst side of the gasometer, swerved to the side and went into the ditch several feet below. The car remained upright, and except for a severe shaking the passengers were none the worse for the experience. The second mishap occurred a little nearer Ashliurst, when a cow made a sudden appearance on the roadway. Presence of mind came to the rescue of the driver and his fares, and lie brought his car to a sudden standstill, but not until it had given the animal a nasty knock,