RULE OF THE ROAD

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 138, 14 June 1930, Page 6

RULE OF THE ROAD

RELYING ON OTHER DRIVER

INTERESTING POINT RAISED

Is a motorist driving along the road on his correct side guilty of negligence if he fails to alter his course when ho meets an approaching car driven on its incorrect side of the road? The question was raised in the Magistrate's Court yesterday before Mr. W. H. Woodward, S.M., in a case arising out of a collision between two motorcars at Upper Hutt at about 11.20 p.m. on the sth March. ■ . .' Mr. Woodward said it was a question whether a -motorist was justified in taking a course in which he relied absolutely upon the other driver doing the right thing. Mr. W. H. Cunningham, for plaintiff, was of the opinion that all a motorist could do was to keep to his own side of the road, and trust that tho other driver would do the same. In the day-: time a motorist on his correct side could get off the bitumen in order to, avoid a collision, but at night the position was different. It was impossible to tell how much clearance there was until the lights of the motor-cars met. Mr. Woodward said it was a safe course to get off the bitumen. Mr. Cunningham: "Is a driver to assume without knowing it that the approaching car is in the wrong? Your Worship is .an expert driver." Mr. Woodward: "Thank you, I am a driver." ■ Continuing, Mr. Woodward said that if a motorist perceived that the other driver was in the wrong, he must not assume that the other driver would alter his course and do the right thing. "My practice is to watch my own. side of the bitumen, and rely on the other man to do the same," he said. Mr. Leicester: "It is the proper practice." Mr. Woodward said that he would not be prejudiced by his own practice, but he was doubtful if one was justified in ■adopting that course.