THE BRAKING TEST

Northern Advocate, 17 September 1934, Page 6

THE BRAKING TEST

ANOTHER PROTEST,

“MODERATION AND WISDOM.”

FIRST BATCH OF PROSECUTIONS. At the meeting of the Whangarei County Council on Friday, a protest was made against the manner in which the traffic inspectors conduct brake tests. * Another protest was made at the Police Court by counsel this morning, when the first batch of prosecutions was heard by Mr G. N. Morris, S.M. Two charges of using trucks at Kamo on September 13 without two effective brakes were laid against C. R. Lovatt and Son, Ltd. Mr F. M. Watters, traffic inspector, said each truck was carrying a load of between five and six tons. After the test- one of the drivers admitted bis brakes were useless.

Mi' R. K. Trimmer, who pleaded guilty /fox’ defendant company, said he did not consider that the test was applied cox’rectly. wisely, or in any way so as to give the court a correct impression as to whether the brakes were effective or not. There had been complaints that inspectors had caused vehicles to be pulled up so suddenly that, in one case, a differential was pulled out. In another, a lady was almost shot through the windscreen, and in a further case, an inspector himself was almost thrown through the windsci’een.

The average drivei’. counsel considered, only, applied his bi’akes in an omei’gency, and would not do so during a test, because of the likelihood of sei’ious damage being caused to his vehicle.

"The regulation should be administered by traffic inspectors with some degree of moderation and wisdom,” he added. “I am afi’aid if they do not operate the Act with that moderation, there will be a crop of defended cases or a test case.” Mr Morris said he had received an invitation' to be present at a test. “1 do not know whether I will be shot through the windscreen,” he said, “but after I have seen a test I will know the position better.” The magistrate went on to say that he was convinced that poor brakes were the cause of many accidents v'hich had their sequel in Court. This was the first batch of cases to come before him. He did not propose to inflict heavy penalties at first, but they would be gradually increased until the offence disappeared. Lovatt and Company were fined £1 and costs 10/ on each charge.

Richard Feaver admitted that his truck was without effective brakes at Maunu on August 10 and was also fined £1 and costs 10/, and the same penalty was imposed on J. R. Reyburn for a similar offence. /