EXCESSIVE SPEED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19667, 8 December 1933, Page 13

EXCESSIVE SPEED

DANGEROUS DRIVING CHARGE MOTORIST CONVICTED A charge that on November 21, he drove a car in North Street at a speed which, having regard to the circumstances, might have been dangerous to the public, was denied by Frederick George Bull (Mr W. H. Walton), who appeared before Mr C. R. Orr-Walker S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Traffic Inspector Newcome said that he was standing in North Street near Cain Street at 7.58 p.m. when he saw a car come out of Harper Street into North Street and proceed towards town at a terrific speed which he estimated at 50 miles an hour. As witness stepped on to the road to take the number of the car the driver eased down five to 10 miles an hour and then crossed the intersection of Grey Road and North Street without iounding the horn. The car was swaying on account of the speed and he driver did not appear to have it under proper control. When opposite Hbson Street the car was on the wrong side of the crown of the road nd it then swung to the centre of he road. In an interview later d,efendtnt said he had seen witness taking he number and his passengers had nformed him of witness’s identity. Bull admitted that his speedometer ihowed 40 miles an hour, but that it was five miles an hour out. Defendmt thought that the swaying of the 'ehicle was due to low pressure tyres. In reply to Mr Walton witness said hat the car was a three-seater, No. 7,614. The Post Office records showid that it was owned by Bull. Deendant had asked witness not to irosecute. Traffic Inspector Cameron gave evilence confirming Inspector Newcome's sonversation with the defendant. Well Under Control. Evidence for the defence which was iven by Bull and E. M. Hobin, a pasienger in the car, was to the eSect hat the vehicle, which was returning rom Waimate, was driven along >tipua Road and down North Street, t was not in Harper Street. Defendnt considered that he had the car fell under control and that down forth Street the speed was not great;r than 30 miles an hour. The num>er of the car was 17,694 and not 17,614 is was contained in the information. )ne of his passengers had told him hat the number had been taken and le interviewed the inspector to find iut what was wrong. The Magistrate said that no doubt here had been a mistake in the inormation concerning the number, >ut the surrounding facts went to show hat it was Bull’s car which the inpector had seen. The question of vhether or not the car was in Harper street was not very material. It was idmitted by defendant that his speed n North Street was about 30 miles an lour, and the onus was on him to ihow that he had not driven in a nanner dangerous to the public. He ould not accept defendant’s statenents in regard to some of the maters he had sworn to. It was almost nexplicable why he should have left he main road and proceeded the way le did, unless one was to draw the inerence that Bull could have driven aster that way than through the nain street. The suggestion that it vas a bit rougher on the main road vas not very easy to accept, especialy when the return journey to Wainate the same night was made hrough the town. He v.as satisfied hat the inspector’s estimate of the ipeed had been confirmed. Defendant lad told the Inspector that he held i responsible position and did not lesire to be prosecuted. The case vas not a serious one but the fact that he defence had claimed that the >rosecution was lying, made the mater a trifle more serious. He had no tnowledge of defendant having been :onvicted previously for speeding. Bull would be convicted and fined £3 with :osts 10/-.