CUTTING OF CORNERS

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXII, Issue 4638, 11 May 1938, Page 5

CUTTING OF CORNERS

WARNING OF MAGISTRATE. MOTORIST CONVICTED. "This class of driver who cuts corners must be taught a lesson. I have met them, we all have met them, but it is very hard to.convict .them in the Court. Had this man been charged with negligent driving I would have taken his license from him,"

These remarks were made by Mr. Freeman, S.M., in the Te Kuiti Court yesterday as he convicted Richard Arnold Chaffey on a charge, that on February 16 he failed to keep as close as practicable to the left' hand side of the road. The case followed upon an accident which happened five miles north of Te Kuiti on the main highway. In fining Chaffey £2, costs £4 18s 2d, Mr. Freeman said he took into consideration the faGt. that defendant had been taught a lesson by being injured both in person and pocket as a result of the accident. Sergeant Campagnolo prosecuted, and Mr. E. M. Mackersey appeared for the defendant. On the latter's behalf a plea of not guilty was at first entered, but after hearing the prosecution this plea was changed to one of guilty. W. P. Walker, of Wellington, said just as his car was rounding a bend he saw another car approaching at a fast speed. This vehicle, driven by Chaffey, had plenty of time to cross over to its left, but it went on.as if cut the corner witness was rounding. Just, as the cars were about to strike, Chaffey swerved suddenly to the left; and Chaffey's back bumper struck his vehicle. After the impact Chaffey's car continued on for 30 yards and then went over a bank, rolling completely over and back on to its wheels again. Both Chaffey and his passenger in his car were slightly injured.

Witness said that his car was so far tc the left that bushes brushed against it. Chaffey said his insurance was and suggested that witness' insurance company should pay for the damage. Witness refused, locked his car, and the traffic inspector was called out.

Evidence was given by Traffic Inspector Cook and two motorists, C. S. M. Johnstone and K. M. Montgomery, who arrived on the scene shortly after the accident, that Walker's wheelmarks were in the silt of the watertable on his left hand side of the road, and that Chaffey's wheel-tracks showed he had slewed sharply from his right to, the left, and continued in that direction until he left the road.