Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, MAY 11th., 1929. MOTORING MISHAPS

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 May 1929, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, MAY 11th., 1929. MOTORING MISHAPS

jy|OTORING mishaps have been prominent in this week’s news, partly owing to the holding of Supreme Court sittings in various parts of the Dominion, at which the list of cases to be dealt with by Judges and juries, included serious indictments against car-drivers. Some Judges, in their addresses to the Grand Juries, dealt with the issue of negligent driving, and on the interpretation of “reasonable care.” Little fault can be found with their Honors’ reasoning, but it is to be hoped that motorists as a class, will not accept these comments as a charter for them to be less careful. It is fair to impress upon juries that a fatal motoring accident does not necessarily imply carelessness on the part of a driver, but it is equally certain that most car mishaps arise from such cause. For every accident that occurs, a similar risk is taken without mishap twenty times at least. Every day can be witnessed defiance of regulations which invites disaster, but by good fortune, nothing untoward happens. Magistrates, Judges and juries cannot be said to be vindictive towards erring motorists. Magisterial penalties imposed on

drunken drivers rarely make the punishment fit the crime, and when juries convict, Judges are seldom severe. Recent instances of leniency were shown at Christchurch, especially in the case where a woman js negligence kilted one man and seriously injured another. Coming up for sentence when called upon, and being forbidden to drive again, was not an onerous sentence seeing that the first clause means nothing unless the woman offends again, which the second clause, and probably her own inclinations, make impossible. The Judge, with his greater knowledge, must be accepted as the best umpire, but there is little deterrent effect upon other possible offenders by such display of mercy, a virtue that should influence but never depose justice.

Were motoring mishaps on the decrease, there would be little cause for comment, but every civilised country is bemoaning the growing number of fatalities through cars and lorries. True, motoring transport is rapidly developing, but so are the many safety devices. Moreover, with police, traffic inspectors and innumerable regulations there should, in theory, be few accidents, apart from those that happen despite every care. In practice, the regulations t are ignored too often, and when the inevitable mishap occurs, the penitent driver, does not fail for sympathy, especially as almost everybody, more or less, uses a car, these days. The experience gained in recent years should have enabled motoring to be as safe as are New Zealand trains, but the casualty list grows annually more serious. This fact should be faced, and real efforts made to make the roads safe for all who use them. There is no question, nowadays, of harassing motorists, but the necessity for compelling greater care by drivers needs no emphasis. Perhaps, the new Transport Board will be able to help to minimise the evil. Parents too, should be more careful about permitting very young children to play in the streets. No motorist can expect to cope with the vagaries of youngsters not of school age, and too many of these have paid piteous penalty for lack of supervision.