SPEEDERS WARNED

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 138, 6 March 1936, Page 12

SPEEDERS WARNED

Charges of , Dangerous Driving LICENSES SUSPENDED "Must Take Some Drastic Action” A • further emphatic warning to motorists against dangerous driving ivas issued in the Wellingtoi) Magistrate’s Court yesterday by Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., when a series of cases came before him in which persons were charged with dangerous driving and driving at dangerous speeds. The licenses of three drivers were suspended for a term and fines were imposed in those and other cases. Mr. Mosley said that drastic action was necessary. “Some two months ago I gave an emphatic warning to people; that warning has not been heeded, and as a consequence magistrates have decided to take a very firm stand,” said Mr. Mosley. “That is not only in Wellington, but throughout New Zealand. It is the only way we can take to prevent tlie horrors that have happened in New Zealand during the past few weeks, not to go further back. We have to do it or things will get worse; they are bad enough now. We have a duty to the public to perform; if we don’t do it we ought not to be here. I never take people at a disadvantage, but I warned them slightly over two months ago what would happen.” At the afternoon sitting of the court Mr. Mosley had more to say on the matter. “I can only emphasise again that bad and careless drivers, if they come before the court, will have to go off the road; that is, if a charge is proved against them,” he commented. “The sooner the public appreciate that fact the better. We qannot have this bad and dangerous driving persisted in by the public. Unless the courts are prepared to do their duty dangerous driving will be on the increase, and I can assure the public that we will do our duty. I and my fellow magistrates from one end of New Zealand to the other will do that.” “One of Worst Samples.” “This is one of the worst samples of bad driving that I have come across for some considerable time,” said the magistrate, when suspending until May 31 next the license of Allen Charles Swanson, farmer, Mungaroa, on a charge of having driven in a manner which, having regard to the circumstances, might have been dangerous to the public. Swanson was also fined £3 and costs. A further charge of driving at a dangerous speed was withdrawn. “Not only was it bad driving, but it was dangerous driving,” the magistrate added. “A man who drives cn the wrong side is guilty of bad and dangerous driving.” Mr. W. Leathern, traffic inspector, said that when on a bend on the Hutt Road defendant had passed three motor-cars on the wrong side of the road and had then swung out and passed another vehicle on the correct side. He estimated the speed of defendant’s car at between 55 and GO miles an hour. “The car was literally jumping when it passed through the section of road where water works are being carried out,” added the inspector. Defendant said that after he had left Petone he was driving at from 35 to 40 miles an hour. He denied having overtaken more than one vehicle, but it was admitted that he passed that on the incorrect side. Frederick Theodore Ogilvy, a motor salesman, who was passed on the wrong side of the road by defendant’s vehicle, said he estimated his own speed at about 25 miles an hour and that of defendant’s car at about 35 miles an hour. There was no degree of danger to witness.

"I am not at all satisfied with the evidence for the defence,” said the magistrate. “I consider the evidence for the informant is much more reliable.”

50 M.P.H. In Tliorndon Quay.

On a charge of driving at a danger oils speed along Thorndon Quay, Reginald Brown was fined £3 and costs and bis license was suspended until May 31. His checked/speed was 50 miles an hour, and his defence was that the road was clear at the time. “I can’t make fish of one and fowl of tlie other,” commented the magistrate when stating that he would have to suspend the license of Percy Edward Onghton, a taxi driver, for a period. “It seems rather hard, but look what has happened. We have to take some drastic action.” Onghton was charged with driving at a dangerous speed, and was fined £3 and costs, his license being suspended until April 5. It was stated that his checked speed was 50 miles an hour in Thorndon Quay at a time when traffic was heavy. Other Cases, John William Downey was fined £3 and costs on a charge of driving in a dangerous manner on the Hutt Road. It was stated that defendant’s vehicle went into a skid when approaching a section of the road that was under repair, travelled for 58 feet, and collided with an oncoming motor-lorry. The car stopped at,right angles to the road. For driving through Mount Victoria tunnel at a speed exceeding the limit of 20 miles an hour, Victor James Davies was fined 30/- and costs. His speed was estimated at 40 miles an hour, but it was admitted that the tunnel was quiet at the time. Rupert Leslie Bond was fined 30/and costs for having approached an intersection of Vivian' and Willis Streets at an excessive speed. Charged with negligent driving in Moxham Avenue, James Elliott was-convicted and fined £1 and costs. On a further charge of not being the holder of a motor driver’s license he was convicted and ordered to pay costs. Exceeding the speed limit past a school in Moxham Avenue cost Gordon Johnson £1 and costs. A similar fine was imposed on Clifton Vercoe for exceeding the local restriction at Kaiwarra. Charles Quin was fined 10/and costs for negligent driving.