YOUR JOB AND MINE

Shannon News, 27 April 1928, Page 2

YOUR JOB AND MINE

SCOTCHING THE ROAD HOG

Something must be done with these road hogs. Every time we have a tilt with them we have the feeling that there will be a reaction later, and the next time we look into the mirror we find our hair . strangely white. One of our readers, says the Auckland “Sufi,” has written that he had spent an hour making his car look de cent when a big dashed past at 30 m.p.h., missing the car by inches, and scattering the contents of a muddy pool over his car, coat, hat and hair. The mud was mixed with tar. The lorry driver was a real road-hog because, not . satisfied with his one bad deed that day, he disappeared round the corner and forgot to come back to see the effects of his fun. It is useless just going on condemning these fellows. The law has something for them—il they are caught, and it is every decent man’s job to see that they are caught, and that the streets and roads are made safe for decent motorists. An Open Season, Lorry drivers are not the only roadhogging class, and neither are all lorry drivers road hogs. Although it requires some determination to institute proceedings,, it is not such a difficult matter to go to court. It is the work of a moment to jot down the number of the offending car, and inform the police. If the motorist hesitates to do that, a letter or a verbal complaint to tho driver’s employers would, perhaps, give the road-hog a nasty jolt. Any motorist taking up the matter with the police should, however, remember that full evidence must be secured. Not only should the vehicles number be taken, but the name of the firm appearing on it should be noted. And it should be remembered that unsupported testimony in a police court does not carry the prosecutor very far if tbe defendant issues a stout denial of the offence. The evidence of witnesses goes a long way in convincing a magistrate. Let this year bo an open season against road hogs. A few convictions for dangerous driving would clear the air, and the roads, considerably.