A WARNING TO PEDESTRIANS

Chronicle (Levin), 6 September 1947, Page 2

A WARNING TO PEDESTRIANS

FIRST OFFENCE IN OTAKI At the Otaki S.M. Court on 1 Thursday a most unusual case wa# heard, when Julio John Picchi, being a pedestrian, walked along Mill Road when there was a footpath. The charge was laid under the Traffic.tRegulations, 1936. Edmund Darcy Durant, _ who "accompanied- him, was similarly charged. In connection with this 'case Arthur William Evans was charged with driving without due care and attention. He pleaded not guilty. Constable Calwell, in outlining the case, stated that the two men were walking along Mill Road when one was knocked over by a car driven .by Evans.' The night was dull but otherwise fine, while the street lampsf although alight, were about two hundred yards apart. On receiving a message he immediately proceeded to the scene of the accident and found one of the men (Durant) lying on the side of the road, where he had been attended by Dr. F. A. H. Neate. The footpath by the side of the road was quite a good one, being nine feet wide and tar-sealed. The defendant admitted walking on the road, and Evans admitted that he was the driver of the car involved. He thought that the me'n were going to cross the road and he took every precaution, but unfortunately 'struck one of the men. As a result of the accident his car was slightly damaged, a headlight was broken, and glass was strewn along the road for some distance. In answer to Evans, it was stated that visibility was dull, it was moonlight, and the road dry. It had not been raining. The road was black, largely on account of the bitumen. Evans stated that he resided at Paekakariki and on the night in question was in Otaki, travelling on his correct side. He did not see the men in time to avoid a collision till he saw them on the road almost in front of his car. One man jumped back and the other continued across the road. Another four inches and he would have missed the man. After the accident he did all possible for the man, and went for the doctor. He was driving carefully" at the time. * • Davies, a passenger in the car, gave corroborative evidence. Constable Calwell pointed out that the two men should have been on the footpath, not on the road, and warnings had been given to . this effect. As a result of pedestrians walking on the road there had been many accidents knd it was desired to avoid repetitions. A fine of 10s (costs 10s) was imposed.