NEGLIGENT DRIVING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 1 August 1933, Page 4

NEGLIGENT DRIVING.

Speaking in the Wellington Supreme Court last week, the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) said that “the position is such at present that the King’s highway lias become a place on which it is unsafe to be. That is a condition of affairs which must, if possible, be remedied.” ITis Honour was only expressing the long-standing sentiments of many citizens. The Bench must take its share of blame for the dangerous nature of our roadways to-day through negligent and drunken drivers being allowed to roam over them almost unchecked. A motorist of this type is summoned before the court and if he does not actually get off he is slightly inconvenienced with a small fine, and goes away almost elated over the stupidity of the Bench, and determined to carry on just as he did previously. “Justice’s Justice” is. a by-word throughout the Dominion, but it is sometimes no more ridiculous than the verdicts which come from some magistrates’ benches. The drunken motorist is the greatest danger on the road, and the only way in which this menace can be dealt with in justice to those who use the roadways is to send him to gaol. For the drunken motorist who causes death, there should be a term of years in gaol, not a mere six months’ detention. Until the Bench realises its duty to the people of the Dominion in regard to the proper punishment of negligent and drunken motor drivers, these will continue to “hold high carnival” on the highways whenever they please.