RIGHT-HAND RULE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23106, 3 August 1938, Page 16

RIGHT-HAND RULE

INTERPRETATION GIVEN PROCESSIONS OF VEHICLES APPLICATION RESTRICTED [BY TELEGIIAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Tuesday "The rule that gives the right of way to vehicles approaching from the right at an intersection docs not give processions of vehicles in a thiough* fnro carrying heavy traffic the right of way over other traffic for an indefiii-. ite time," said Mr. Justice Blaii in tho Supreme Court at 'Wellington to-day. "Some people think that so long as there is a procession it is to go oil for ever, and that the right-hand rule is continuously operating," said His Honor. "They think that tl.o person against whom tho rule is operating is not to be allowed to enter the road until some motorist more imbued wiUi consideration for others stops to let him across. . , "They think the right-hand nil applies no matter how far back they may have been in the procession when the motorist gave his signal to time across, but it does not. It applies to only the first one or two who may fairly ho said to have been in the region of the intersection when the motorist desirous of crossing first his signal to cross. His" Honor remarked also that the motorist emerging from an intersection, against whom tho righ ianc operated, was entitled to assume hat another car approaching from tho rush and entitled to the benefit of tho rulo was travelling at a reasonable speed aud in accordance with regulations In other words, he was entitled to judge the question of the fW» hc ' bility against him of the righ - an rulo' on' tho footing that the driver i„ whose favour the rule operated was an ordinary prudent driver and not a road hog.