WEEK-END DRIVERS

Evening Star, Issue 22526, 19 December 1936, Page 24

WEEK-END DRIVERS

NECESSITY FOR CAUTION CHIEF JUSTICE'S WARNING [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, December 18. Emphasis on the need for drivers of motor vehicles to exercise particular care at week-ends was laid by the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) in the Supreme Court in Wellington to-day, \ when delivering an oral judgment in a case in which a motorist appealed from the decision of the magistrate suspending his license. “ It is in the highest degree important,” said His Honour, “ that particular care should bo taken by , those who drive motor vehicles at the weekends, because it is well known that at the week-ends .there is a considerable amount of traffic, much more than usual, and one may expect to find cars out on those days which are not seen on the road on ordinary week days. Now, in these conditions, the appellant was driving his car in the middle of the road at a speed of about 50 miles an hour, according to the inspector, whose evidence I accept, for a distance of about 100yds. There was no possibility of the appellant obtaining a place in the traffic which was moving southward to Wellington. The person who drives in such a manner is travelling to the very serious danger of the public. He is looking for trouble, and it is in that way that a great many of the accidents happen which are the subject matter of litigation before the court hero and elsewhere in New Zealand, and before the courts on inferior jurisdiction. It is necessary that tribunals should do all they can to insure reasonable safety to that section of the public that uses the roads and to the public generally. _ Of course, every case has to he considered on its

own merits, and in the light of its own facts. I do not for a moment suggest that any rigid rule should be laid down that every person who commits a breach of the motor regulations should have his license suspended, or that he should be punished in any particular

way; hut Ido say that in a case of th# kind which is now before me, it is necessary to exercise the power which, the court has of suspending the license of an offender. That is what the magistrate did, and I think he was right ih doing so. The appeal is dismissed. •