MOTOR MENACE

Hokitika Guardian, 29 October 1930, Page 3

MOTOR MENACE

JUDGE'S 'COMMENTS

By Telegraph—Pre«e Association)

WELLINGTON, Oct. 28

“We have a groat many of these accidents. It is unfortunate- that there is not, a definite rule that it is an offence at any time to drive upon tlv wrong side of the road,’’ said Mi: Justice Blair in referring to charges agjain'it tw'o andtorisi#: charged wirih causing 'the d.until of persons. His Honour -paid be held that if motorists were compelled at all times to keep to the proper side of the road it world be found that there would he a great diminu/ 1 ion in the number of accidents. Dealing with civil and criminal negligent'.'', His Honour said that some people seemed to have an impression that there was a distinction between the measure of care required in civil negligence as compared with the measure of care required in criminal negligence. He knew of no such distinction. Tho measure of care was the same. Every person crossing, a road was required to take a reasonable /precaution to use reasonable care. Reasonable care was the same in both civil and criminal negligence. The only distinction being as to the re*-It, If the result was grievous bodily harm, or the death of someone, the law took cognisance of it 'bCcauS' the law was specially jeaPuP of the sanctity and care of human life. It would he appreciated that if there were any distinction by wliic-li a person 'was entitled to a greater degree of recklessness iu driving in criminal cases than in civil cases, the position wo "Id bo v'-rv difficult. Tt might result in making the safety of thos« rning the road much more precarious than it was at present.

CYCLIST BADLY HURT

IN MOTOR COLLISION. NEW PLYMOUTH. Oct. 28. A damaged motor car and motor cycle, Loth blazing fiercely, and a man lying unconscious on the roadway with his .petrol soaked (dot'dno- affair 0 were discovered by a motorist, S. TV. White, of Hawera, near Waver ley. on Monday night. Two vehicles had collided, and a cyclist, V. J. Hell.var. of New Plymouth, was flung to the ground, severely injured and rend’red unconscious. The driver of the car involved in the collision, Herbert Morrison of Moumahaki, with tb° misistance of White, extinguished Hellyar’s burning clothing and attended him until the arrival of a doctor. Hcllyar was taken to the Patea Hospital, suffering from a broken arm. and bruised head. He was still unconscious to-night.