NEGLIGENT DRIVING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22896, 26 November 1937, Page 16

NEGLIGENT DRIVING

MAGISTRATE IMPOSES FINE " EXAMPLE OF A ROAD HOG" "It is a perfect example of a road bog," said Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., when Percy Carlyon (iVfr. George Skelton), charged with driving negligently on the Great North Road at New Lynn on October 5, appeared in tho Police Court yesterday. Charges of failing to stop after being involved in an accident and of negligent driving were preferred, pleas of guilty being entered. Mr. Skelton said no one had been injured in tho accident, and he did not think the charge of failing to stop should have to bo heard in tho Supreme Court. Sub-Inspector Fox said until the passing ot the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 1936, cases of failure to stop could be dealt with summarily, but they were now indictable. For that reason charges were not laid unless the cases were serious. In this instance the commission of the offeneo was clear. Mr. Fox said Mr. A. C. D. F. Mickle had parked his car on tho correct side of the road at 12.50 a.m. on October o, and was talking to a friend on the footpath. A van struck tho back of the car, damaging tho wheel, mudguard and tyre. The van went on down the road, and came back shortly after, the lights being switched off as it came near. It passed at a speed estimated by a postal official to be 50 miles an hour. It was impossible that the driver of the van did not notice the impact. The magistrate said he considered the case could be dealt with adequately in the Police Court, and no evidence was offered on the indictable charge. Mr. Skelton said defendant did not see the parked car until close to ,it. He had not tried to avoid the car on his way back. In 15 years driving he had never injured anyone. A fine of £lO and costs was imposed, and defendant's licence was cancelled for six months. Default was fixed at three months' imprisonment, seven days being allowed to pay tho fine.