A NEGLIGENT MOTORIST

Hokitika Guardian, 21 February 1925, Page 3

A NEGLIGENT MOTORIST

HEAVY FINE IMPOSED. WELLINGTON, February 19. The extended power of control over motorists was evidenced in a decision of Mr F. K. Hunt. S.M., in a Retime case where S. S. M’Arthur, a motorist convicted of driving in a manner dangerous to the public was disqualified from obtaining a driver’s license for six months, his existing license being cancelled. He was also lined C 25.

Defendant was proceeding along Peti no main street on January 14, which was the day on which a. trotting meeting was held at 11 litt Park, and when opposite the main school he overtook a Mr 11. C. Williams, who was riding a bicycle. In attempting to pass on the wrong side he collided with the cycle and caused damage to both it and its rider. 11. C. Williams gave evidence that he was on his proper side of the road and about twelve feet from, the kerb when he heard accused approaching from behind, and I lie next he knew was that the car was on his left side anil that it had struck his cycle carrying it and him along lor a distance of 1119 feet when the car was stopped. Accused made no reply to a request for his name, hut drove i ff

again. Corroborative evidence was given by Edwin Dunslati, who said the car approached at twenty miles an hou.\ M’Artlmr in evidence said that \>- ! - liunis was in the middle of the loail and he thought lie was right under the circumstances to pass on the left instead of the tight, lie had blown his horn when entiling up behind V. * liams.

The Magistrate said the case .? one of gross carelessness in (biting. Accused was lucky he was not charged with manslaughter. The sounding of the horn behind Williams and then luring to the left "’as an absolutely wrong act. and showed that accused was quite incompetent. Naturally Mm cyclist, hearing the horn, would bear to the left to give accused room to pass on the right. It was the duty ol a person approaching another Irma ■ hind to slacken sneod if there, was net room to pa>s on his proper side, (reused would be fined C 25. Ins I’resent license cancelled and he would be disqualified from receiving another In. six months. In reply to the pica of accusers solicitor the Bench reduced the i.w to (529.