“MUST BE CAREFUL”

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 150, 20 March 1936, Page 13

“MUST BE CAREFUL”

Magistrate’s Remarks To Taxi-drivers EXCESSIVE SPEED CHARGES The necessity for taxi-drivers to drive carefully was stressed by Mr. E. D Mosley, S.M., in remarks to defendants in traffic by-law cases heard by him in tlie Wellington Magistrates Court yesterday. Several taxi-drivers were charged with exceeding the speed limit along city streets. ‘‘You people driving taxis must oe careful,” said the magistrate, when Peter Bardebes was charged with driving along Customhouse Quay at an excessive speed. He was stated to have been doing 38 miles an hour when the traffic was heavy. He was convicted and fined £2 and costs. "Did you have any passengers? asked the magistrate. ‘‘Two passengers,” said defendant. "You should have been more careful,” said the Magistrate. “If you broke your own neck it would not matter, but if you broke your passengers’ necks it would.”

A similar penalty was Imposed on Terence O’Kane Maddison, a taxidriver, who was charged with driving at an excessive speed along Moxham Avenue. His speed was stated to be 40 miles an hour.

Defendant said ho considered he was driving in a safe manner. ‘‘Until something happens,” said the magistrate. Frederick George Street, a taxidriver. was fined 20/- and costs on a. similar charge, in respect to Featherston Street. Defendant had been "paced” to do 35 miles an hour along to Lambton Station, 30 miles an hour across the station, and 35 miles an hour along Thorndon Quay. For defendant it was stated lie had been hold up a number of times by traffic on his way to Thorndon Station with a fare waiting to catch the New Plymouth train. As a result of being held up, defendant was urged to hurry. “There would not have been any excuse for defendant if he bad knocked somebody down iu the course of speeding up,” said the magistrate.

Another taxi-driver. Eric William Parsloe, was fined 30/- and costs for driving at a greater speed than 15 miles an hour past a school in Moxbam Avenue. Parsloe’s speed was given at 35 miles an hour.

Defendant said his company had a contract with Union Airways to take passengers out to Ilongotai aerodrome. The cab generally used broke down and defendant was sent; out. He was late and did not know Hataitai well. “There is one thing I will not overlook.” said the magistrate. ‘‘That is speeding past schools. It. is too dangerous altogether. Children can hardly be expected to have the road-sense adults have, or are supposed to have. A speed of 35 miles an hour past a school in school hours when children are about is ridiculous.” Other Traffic Cases. For a similar offence Vera May Robinson was fined 30/- and costs. Her speed was stated to be 30 miles an hour. For driving at an excessive speed along Thorndon Quay on February 26. Percy Armstrong was convicted and fined 30/- and costs. It was stated that defendant was “paced” by a traflic inspector to be driving at 35 miles an hour. Defendant said he wanted to get to a dance. Traflic was light. Joseph Bagani was convicted and fined 30/- and costs for driving at an excessive speed along Adelaide Road. Defendant’s speed was stated to be 38 miles an hour, on a “greasy” surface.

George Harrison was fined 30/- and costs for driving at an excessive speed along Thorndon Quay. It was stated defendant’s speed was 35 miles an hour.