“EYES FRONT."

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10732, 1 November 1928, Page 2

“EYES FRONT."

PRETTY GIRL ON ROAD. BOYS FALL FOR HER. ; A’pretty girl walking along the main road near Makaralca. on. Sunday, September 16 last so absorbed the .interest of two youths passing by that she was the indirect cause of a motor collision. The first boy was driving a motor Van) .lie stopped suddenly to pick the girl up, the dther lad was motor-eycling Behind and turning his head momentarily as he waved-to the girl;; he crashed into'the back of the stationary vehicle. The sequel was staged in the Child Welfare Court before Mr. E. C. Levvey yesterday. The motor van' driver was - charged under the Motor Vehicles Regulations with failing to pull overt to f'the 'extreme left of the road' before stopping. The motor-cyclist was accused of riding in a manner that, •might have been dangerous -to the public.- Both lads pleaded not guilty. , Outlining the facts. Senior Sergt. McLean stated that this was the first caso of its kind .hoard in this court of motor drivers failing to pull over to the extreme left of the road in stopping. The Magistrate: He stopped"in the middle of the road.as most of them do,' I suppose. The Senior Sergeant admitted this was true. The motor-cyclist' had already been severely punished through receiving severe injuries as a result of the collision. There was no doubt, however, that there had been a great deal of negligence. The youth driving the motor van had passed a young girl walking along tire road and stopped suddenly in Ins tracks to give her a lift. The niotor-cyelist was following behind at a speed of from 30 to 35 m.p.h., on his own reckoning, which, although within the limit imposed by the regulations was dangerous at that point of the road. Whilst travelling at that outrageous speed he turned his head for a second as he waved to the girl. As a result he crashed /heavily into the back of the van and was nearly killed, suffering severe injuries. The. parents might think it hard that the prosecutions were brought but. lie emphasised the action was taken to present a warning to others. The motor-cyclist might Easily have into a pedestrian crossing the road instead of a van.

“And, of course, lie could have had to stand his trial for manslaughter in that event,” remarked the Magistrate, who calculated that in the second the lad glanced away from the front lie would have travelled 50 feet.

The girl gave evidence that she did not know the boy driving the van but after passing her he stopned suddenly, the left wheels being just on the edge of the bitumen. The motor-cyclist who was following knew her and lie glanced in her direction and waved his right hand and then crashed in the back of the van. Sergeant Mclntyre gave evidence of having interviewed the motorcyclist who agreed that he was partially af fault for the accident through looking to the side. but. blamed the van driver principally for pulling ir in the centre of the road without giving any warning. “I reckon the accident was duo to the van driver pulling up in the centre of the road,” declared the motor-cyclist in answer to the magistrate. “But what rif another oar had been coming down the road what would have happened,” asked the magistrate. “I suppose I would have crashed into him,” replied the youth. “It’s no good looking away ever, if there is a pretty girl on the road” remarked-the magistrate, who asked the youth why lie had not slowed clown.

“J did. I skidded my hark whee 1 for some distance when I saw the van, but it was too late. The van driver asserted that he signalled his intention of stopping before doing so. and nulled up the left wheels off the bitumen. The magistrate: The .girl'says the wheels were on the bitumen. Sbe wouldn't come here to tell me a' story. Apart from the regulations comnionsense ought to t<dl you not to stop in the centre of' the road, like most people do in this town. Senior Sergeant McKean stated that the Traffic Insper described the niotsr-cycttst .as a “one-hand actor” and suggested that he should be “'■ yen a holiday. , Traffic Inspector Scott, stated that the lad was known as a “one-hand artist”, and had. seen him the pre vious day doing the “one hand stunt.” He advised that the youth should he given a “holiday” for his own and the benefit of other users of the road. This “one hand.stunt” is not onlv an act of stupidity but the regulations absolutely forbid! it” remarked the magistrate. In adjourning the case for three months during which the youth would be under police super vision, the magistrate warned him he would be watched and if there was any more cf his “one hand act/' lie would .lose his license for a lengthy period. He was sorry for the injuries ho suffered but he coulc.. not allow him to ride in that mantier. “You ought to have known better was the magistrate's parting shot to the other lad who was admonished and discharged.