Details of Changes in the Traffic Laws

Chronicle (Levin), 11 December 1948, Page 3

Details of Changes in the Traffic Laws

^ 9 "Soine considerable elianges in certain aspects of the traffic law are eontained in the new Transport Law Amendment ' Act," said the Minister of ■ Transport (Hon. F. Hackett). He explained that t the new clian'g'es dealing with road traffic were alr^ady effective and that he w;ou!d make a.-fuli statement exp'iaming :the provWions of . the Act relating to transport lieensing as soon as pp&siblo. '■ (A11 motor scooters,. motorised bi* cycles and other small motor-driven vehicles, with the exceptnon of invalid chairs, are now defmed as motorvehicles," said Mr. Hackett. - // This means, first that they must be 'regist' ered, carry plates and have a warrant of fitness, and second, that drjvers and riders must be licensed and over 16 years of age. Previously the law applied only to those vehicles wergliing more than one' hundredweight. * ' The time has now avrived, however, -K'hen it is desirable to exercise a lirmer eontrol over these 'midget' vehicles, many of which are capable of quite • liigh speeds." ( Increased Penalties ' ' Another provision allows for a greatly increased penalty for the person who drives whilst under disqualification," he said. "Under the previous law a .man whose licence had been cancclled as accident-.prone, physically unfit or f ollowing a eonvietion for drunken or dangerous driving could be dealt with only under the same offence as for failing to renew a licence. He is now liable to a fine of £100 and his licence can be suspended for a further twelve months. This will, I hope, act as a deterrent to those who think they can flout the law to the menace of otliers on the roads." The Minister pointed out that a further provision makes it illegal for a driver whose licence has been cancelled to be at the wheel even though another licensed driver is beside him. Along similar lines, there is now no exemption for a learner driver if the licence holder alongside him is not authorised to drive that class of vehiele. ' 'Hit-and-Run" Changes " ' Hit-and-run ' drivers are the subject of another clause in the new Act," said the Minister. "It is now the personal responsibilitv of the driver of a vehiele cansing bo'dily _ injury to any person to report the accident to a police station or police eonstable HIMSELF. This report must be made as soon as possible and not later than twenty-four hours after the accident. Of course, this does not apply when the driver himself is ineapacitated by the accident." "Previously the law required only that the accident be reported, not necessarily by the driver, and eases have been known where drivers have taken advantage of that loophole and escaped identilieation. " A further amendment redueed the penalty for "hit-and-run" drivers wh'ere no personal injury was involved. Pormerly all "hit-and-run" drivers were liable to the same penalty and, even in cases of only minor damage, could be finally dealt with only by the Supreme Court. Vehiele damage cases may now be dealt with in the lower courts, the maximum penalty being three months' imprisonment or fine of £100. Provision is also made for the aytomatic cancellation of a driver 's licen&e where a detention order is made for the licensee as a mental defective. 1 - "All of these new provisions are the result of careful investigation by the New Zealand Road Safety Council," said Mr. Hackett. "It is hoped that within -a short time a number of further ainendments will be made to the Traffic Regulations following other recommendations of the Road Safety Couueil." ""6