FAILURE TO STOP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22775, 8 July 1937, Page 12

FAILURE TO STOP

STREET CROSSINGS

TWO MEN PROSECUTED MOTORIST AND MOTOR-CYCLIST The first prosecutions in Auckland under the Traffic Regulations, 1936, as they apply to pedestrians' crossings, were brought by the superintendent of traffic, Mr. C. Bland, in the Police Court yesterday when a motorist and a motor-cyclist were each charged with failing to give way to pedestrians. it was alleged against Thomas Brewer that, being the driver of a motor-car in Karangahapo Road, he failed to yield the right of way to a pedestrian engaged in crossing the roadway within an authorised pedestrian crossing upon the half of the roadway over which such vehicle was lawfully entitled to travel. Brewer pleaded not guilty. Officer in Patrol Car A traffic officer, B. R. Rutledge, said lie was in a patrol car in Karangahape Road at 4.40 p.m. on May 5, and stopped at a pedestrian crossing to allow two women with a pram and some children to cross tlio road. Defendant drove past the patrol car and scattered! a number of pedestrians. When witness called upon him to stop he pulled into the kerb.

Defendant said he remembered seeing two young ladies but could not recall seeing a perambulator. He had not been able to see the people on the crossing because the patrol car blocked his view.

The Magistrate, Mr. C. R. Orr Walker: Exactly. Why did you not pull up?

Intention of Regulations

The magistrate added that it was dangerous for pedestrians walking over the road if no heed were paid to the crossings by motorists. The intention of the regulations was to give confidence to pedestrians to cross in safety. In this case the regulations had certainly been broken and defendant would be fined 10s.

Basil Llewellyn Watkin pleaded guilty to a similar offence in Queen Street on May 22. A traffic officer said that the offence occurred at 10 o'clock on a Saturday morning when both pedestrian and motor traffic were heavy. Pedestrians were crossing the street and about three or four cars were stopped in a line. Watkin, who was riding a motorcycle, rode past the cars, with the result that a number of pedestrians had to step back hurriedly. A fine of 10s was imposed.