Tram Driver Fined For Speeding

Chronicle (Levin), 31 May 1948, Page 7

Tram Driver Fined For Speeding

Press Association )

(Per

WELLINGTON, May 29. Swaving from side to side and rrightening passengers, a traincar sped over 50 niiles an hour yestcrda,> aftemoon while gomg downhill past Wakefield Park on route to Island Bay. rhis evidente given by witncsses in the Magistrate's Court toda}' when Jamos Frank Simpson, tramway motormau, aged 28, was eharged with driving a tram in a manner which, by reason of his intoxication, was .dangerous to the safety of the passengers. Two tramway inspectors who travelled with aceused 011 liis tram yesterday, said they warued hihi for overshooting a tramstop and erossing an interseetio.i .it an excessive speed. 1 An Island Bay resident who followea the tram 011 his m,otor cycl'e froni th c. hilltop, deseribed how the tram suudenly aecelerated and " barged down hill"., It eame to rest by the police „station, .with. smokc .pouring out from underneath. ''On tlie way downhill I looked'at my spoedonietcr and it showed over 50 miles an hour. " Oue of tlie passengers said that on the race downliill hc heard part df the tram bumping 011 tlie ground. Passengers wished to .alight but the tram did not stop. Constable Rowlands who arrested aceused when he brought his tram lnick to towu, said Simpson was under the •nfluence oi"' liquor although he denied iiaving drunk anything that dav. The Magistrate, Mr. «T. S. Haumi, imposed tlie niaxituuui penalty of £10.