MOTOR CAR DRIVING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4391, 17 March 1922, Page 2

MOTOR CAR DRIVING.

CHECK ON RECKLESSNESS. In deferring sentence on the driver of a motor-par found guilty of manslaughter at Gisborne Mr Justice Reed stated that: it waj difficult to know what to do in these cases. In a recent case at Napier His Honour had. granted probation to a prisoner responsible for running over a child on the road with fatal results, and newspaper comment Jiad followed. The continual occurrence of such accidents with subsequent proceedings, in the courts directs, attention forcibly to the need of a revision in our antiquated laws con ■ trolling motor traffic. The Motor Bill was put on one side last session', but in view of the perpetual loss of life and limb-in motor accidents the measure is really of far more urgency than many that took precedence of it. Nothing will tend more certainly towards cautious driving by motorists than the knowledge that carelessness or recklessness-on their part may lead either to the total revocation or temporary suspension of their licenses to drive. Far too many motor drivers to-day are 'in tlhe habit of taking chances unnecessarily in travelling around bends and corners on the roads, and in passing other traffic at high speed with small clearance room. The suspension of the licenses of the reckless will mean better habits and more careful driving by all, and must t<?nd to reduce the numbers of these accidents with the consequent, loss of valuable lives.