WARRANTS OF FITNESS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 34, 4 November 1937, Page 13

WARRANTS OF FITNESS

Obligation On Motorists The responsibility of motorists to maintain the mechanical condition of their cars after the issue of warrants of fitness was stressed by the Minister of Transport, Hon. R. Semple, iu a statement issued yesterday. Sir. Semple said the possession of a warrant did not absolve the motorist entirely for the ensuing six months. The Minister said the purpose of the legislation requiring owners of motorvehicles to obtain warrants of fitness was to ensure that every motor-vehicle using the public highways was in such a condition that it was not likely to prejudice the safety of road users. The examination simply ensured that the condition of the vehicle was satisfactory every six months, and it was the duty of the motorist to see that the vehicle was maintained in a satisfactory condition. “Some motor-vehicles may travel ten times the distance of others during the same period,” Mr. Semple said. “Thus the authority issuing the warrant cannot be called on to accept, an

unconditional responsibility over the whole six-monthly period. If a motorist is not mentally capable of realising when he is driving a vehicle which a menace on the roads he should not be given a driver’s licence in the first place.”