Fined For Driving Without Due Care

Chronicle (Levin), 12 February 1949, Page 2

Fined For Driving Without Due Care

Charged with driving a lorry without due care and attention at Te Horo on December 24, Patrick Shields, of Te Horo, was fined £1, with 15s • costs, 'when ' he appeared before Mr. A. M. Goulding, S.M., in the Mag'istrate's Court, Otaki on Thursday. Prosecuting, « Sergeant W. S. Hughes told the court that a co;lision had occurre'd between a car driven by Benjamin Brickman, of Wel ington, and a lorry driven by Shields, who was reversing across the main highway.

In evidence,. Brickman said he was proceeding south at a slow speed, and near Te Horo observed a stationary lorry facing southwards. Without giving any indication, the lorry had reversed directly across the road. Witness had sounded his horn, but the lorry had continued on. He had brought his car to a stan'dstill, but the lorry 'had not stopped until after it had crashed into the headlights of his car. Shields testified that there was no traffic in sigbt for a distance of about 'a quarter of a mile when he stepped oh tb the running hoard of his truck. Cases on' ihe back of the truck obscure'd his vi'sion. He proceede'd to reverse at a crawling pace and was more than half way across the road when a horn souhded. He had stopped within a split second, but the car ran into his lorry. Cases on the back of the truck had obscure'd his vision after hbi had gone about a yard.

To' Sergeant Hughes, Shields said that a companion in the cab was writing on a pad wnile he was reversing. A bystander who saw the mishap, J. T. Wickham, said he observed the approaching car as Shields moved. He ha'd remarked to a companion, "Look at this' fool coming." Tne car had made no attempt to stop, and he would say it was still in motion at the time of impact. For defendant, Mr. B. H. Rhodes contended that the . case was of some consequence .tq.- trapsport firms. Their driverk ' were calie'd upon to execute this particular ■manoeuvre daily, often'in busy city sireets. He claimed that Shields was driving with tne utmost care arid attention, and. the issue was one of an error of judgment. "Drivers repeatedly make this manoeuvre and I have repeatedly I fipe'd them for it ," • commented the ' magistrate in imposing the penalty 'stated above. "A ^ri.veh WhQ^bAQM out and loses his vision proceed's at I his own risk. In my opinion defendant drove without due care and attention. His companion coiuld have been told to look for traffic. A 'driver has got to be certain that someone has not appeared on the scene."

tliings bqforfe him. Carry on Mr. MacKenzie," th%!=speaker cancluded, ! "we are missing you in Wellington, but we are pleased with what you are doing for horticulture in Otaki. We know this work will keep you happy and active till the end of your days." Mrs. Knox Gilmer was accompanied by Mrs. A. J. Du Pont. Displays of the choicest embroidered linen work by Mrs. Hardlng and other members of the Cook family, cut fiowers and decorative work by the Otaki Women's Institute garden circle and a most varied display of first class vegetables were addedi attractions at ■ the show. The prize list will be published on Monday.