HUTT ROAD DRIVING

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 142, 12 December 1935, Page 13

HUTT ROAD DRIVING

MAGISTBATErS COMMENT

"FEARFULLY HAZARDOUS"

Comment on the dangerous practice of drivers on the Hutt Road who attempt to pass two cars already abreast was made in the Magistrate's Court today by Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M.; who expressed the wish that the Automobile Association, in the interests of public safety, would bring some exemplary prosecution to Court.

The Magistrate's remarks were made during the hearing of a case against Walter Ikin, against whom a charge of dangerous driving, which was amended to one of overtaking two vehicles while- they were .abreast, was laid.

Mr. P. H. Putnam, for the defendant, said that he was following two cars travelling in line, and as he pulled out, to pass both of them the second car, without warning, swung across to overtake the first vehicle. The defendant, because of the greasy nature of the road, had no alternative but to accelerate, as a sudden stop would have meant a skid.

The Magistrate said his remarks did not apply to the defendant.

"I have been on the Hutt Road three or fohr times in the past fortnight," said t|e Magistrate, "and I see a lot of cars travelling three- abreast—l have watched them on several occasions. It is extremely bad driving and fearfully hazardous. I wish the Automobile Association would take some action about it; I am sure they don't advocate in any way anything that is dangerous to the public. I wish a member of the association . would bring some exemplary cases before the Court. I don't like to suggest that anybody should act—it is not as a spy—but it is in the interests of the public."

Mr. Putnam: Your Worship's remark would go further. Not only members of the association, but pro bono publico. The Magistrate: Thatis so.

Mr. Putnam: Parenthetically, the association might be unwilling to prosecute what might be a member.

The Magistrate: We very often have to fine, and fine heavily, our own friends.

The defendant was fined 20s and costs. .