FAILURE TO GIVE WAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26625, 22 November 1947, Page 9

FAILURE TO GIVE WAY

ACCIDENT SEQUEL COMPLAINT BY MOTORIST A strong protest at the inadequacy of the penalty imposed ' on a truck driver in the City Police Court on Wednesday was made by a Dunedin motorist who was involved in the accident from which the charge arose. Ho stated that the charge of failing to give way to traffic from the right had not met the case, and one of dangerous driving should have been laid by the police. The motorist stated that he was driving down Forth street in a light car towards Union street. The intersection was clear, and he proceeded to cross it. He had just begun to accelerate when he saw a three-ton lorry approaching at a speed of over 40 miles an hour. He could see that the lorry could not stop, and he jammed on his brakes. The lorry was unable to stop and struck his car, slewing it round and severely damaging it. The truck skidded up Union street for a distance of about 100 feet and finished facing in the opposite direction from that in which it was travelling. , , “Onlookers told me I was lucky to be alive, and the police agreed,” the motorist said. “ Yet the driver of the truck was charged with failing to give way to traffic from the right, and was fined ofily £2 and costs (10s). That is not the way to stop road hogs of this nature, who are a menace to all users of the roads. He should have been charged with dangerous driving and been fined heavily. No one should be allowed to drive a three-ton truck at 40 to 45 miles an hour in a city street.”

This complaint was referred to the Police Department at Dunedin, where it was stated that there was no independent witness to the accident, ana the prosecution was laid under a charge of failing to give way to traffic approaching on the right, which on the statements obtained appeared to be the main breach committed by the defendant.