MOTORING OFFENCES

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 64, 9 December 1936, Page 15

MOTORING OFFENCES

Dangerous and Negligent Driving CONVICTIONS ENTERED Several cases were heard in the Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, yesterday, in which motorists faced charges of negligent or dangerous driving. In three cases the informations were dismissed. Mr. Raymond Ferner, S.M., heard all but two of the eases, which were taken by Mr. J. 11. Luxford, S.M. Found guilty of negligent driving at Waikanae on Sunday, November 15, Byron Brown was convicted and fined £3 and costs by Mr. Luxford. For the prosecution, Mr. J. Ainsworth, traffic inspector, said that at about 5 p.m. on November 15 defendant passed three motor-cars which were approaching the northern end of the Waikanae bridge. Defendant’s car came to rest against a railing fence at the end of the bridge, blocking the roadway, and one of the other three vehicles collided with it It was stated in evidence that when the leading car was about 60 yards from the bridge defendant went ahead and cut across, getting into a side skid. Defendant was unable to straighten his car up. In his defence Mr. Brown said he was an experienced and careful driver and would never have attempted to pass the car had he not been quite satisfied it was possible with reasonable safety to get on to the bridge. When he sounded his horn the car he was passing moved over a little and h£ ttas forced to swerve over to the right and lost control of his vehicle. The leading car was 75 to 100 yards from the bridge when he attempted to pass. An Eri'or of Judgment. Commenting that he did not think there was any recklessness or negligence in the case, but that defendant had made an error of judgment, Mr. Ferner dismissed an information or dangerous driving against Arthur Horace Gilby. n . It was shown in evidence that defendant was driving his car from Waterloo Quay along Davis Street, and when emerging on to Thorndon Quay he accelerated to avoid a Railways bus which was proceeding along Thorndon Quay toward the city. The defence was that the view was obstructed by hoardings, and that the decision to accelerate was an emergency measure. After making that decision he was unable to make a right-hand turn after clearing the line of the bus. He applied his brakes but the car crashed through a fence and finally came to rest against a building. If defendant had not accelerated the car would have collided with the bus. A charge of negligent driving on the Hutt Road, against Frank Fordham, was dismissed by Mr. Luxtord. The case arose out of an accident on October 25, when a youth walking along the Hutt Road on his way 'home from a party at Petone, was knocked down by a car driven by defendant, who with three others was returning from a cabaret at Upper Hutt. The magistrate said there was no evidence of fast driving, or lack of control on the part of defendant. Saying the case was not a seiiOUs one, but he was satisfied it had been established, Mr. Ferner convicted William Doyle on a charge of failing to give his name and address after an accident, and ordered him to pay costs. A collision between two motor-cars at the intersection of Vivian and Taranaki Streets on August 15, the story of which has already been heard in the Magistrate’s* Court and the Supreme Court, again came before the Magistrate’s Court, yesterday when a case was heard in which Alexander Parker Buriis pleaded not guilty to an allegation of failing to give way to traffic on the right. After hearing evidence Mr. Ferner dismissed the information. For driving at a speed that might have been dangerous, George Lauchlan Conibear was fined £1 and costs. A similar penalty was imposed on Dr. Kenneth Rees Thomas, who pleaded guiltv to a charge of negligent driving. The latter charge arose out of a collision in Riddiford Street, on October 29. On a charge of negligent driving in Dixon Street, on November 11, Hugo Lupi was fined £1 and costs.