To Clear Roads o'f Careless Drivers

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 215, 30 November 1927, Page 15

To Clear Roads o'f Careless Drivers

BENCH’S DETERMINATION

HIGH PRICE OF NEGLIGENCE

•*T AM going to clear the roads of these careless drivers. This is the type of man who should not be allowed to drive a car. He suggests that pedestri- . arts have no right to be on the road. “It is pretty extraord i nary if people have not the right to board a tramcar.” These trenchant remarks were made by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court this morning when Herbert Charles Johnson, a young motor salesman-mechanic, was charged with negligent driving in Khyber Pass on October 22. Sergeant Turner, who prosecuted, said that Johnson was endeavouring to pass, a tramcar which was slowing to stop when he knocked down Mrs. Agnes Hutchinson, who was walking across the road to board the car. As a result of the accident she was confined to bed for five days. (Jiving evidence Johnson contended that his car did not strike the woman, but that she slipped on some gravel in stepping back to avoid his motor. He said he was travelling at 20 miles per hour and made three complete swerves to avoid the woman. Defendant held that Mrs. Hutchinson did not look before she stepped out on to the road. Sergeant Turner reminded the court that Johnson had been convicted and fined a fortnight ago, also for negligent driving. Summing up the facts, Mr. Hunt said the case was quite clear. It was ridiculous to state that the woman slipped and was not struck by the car. Johnson was convicted and fined £5 and £2 14s costs. He was ordered to pay £lO damages to Mrs. Hutchinson and his licence was cancelled for 12 months.