LIGHTS ON VEHICLES.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1915, Page 3

LIGHTS ON VEHICLES.

AN ARGUMENT FOR MR. BUDDO'S BILL. (From Our Own Correspondent.) ' Wellington, Sept, 22. A discussion regarding the lighting of vehicles - hsing country roads at night arose in the House of Representatives this afternoon. An Invercargil motorist encountered a cart on a dark road at night. The only light on the cart was, a bicycle lamp held in the middle of the vehicle, and the driver of the motorear, according to his own account, thought that he was approaching a bicycle and made allowance accordingly. The collision resulted in the death of one of the two men in the cart and the motorist was convicted of 'manslaughter and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment. Some special circumstance attached to the case, but the point that interested members of the House was that the accident would not have occurred if the cart had been lighted in accordance with the provisions of the Hon. D. Buddo's Lights of Vehicles Bill, which has been -brought forward in successive sessions. Mr. Buddo hag provided merely for the carrying of one light on the right hand side of the vehicle, and he claims that the driver who is not prepared to do that much should not be allowed to use the country roads at night. The Bill is dependent at present on the favour of the Government. A private member's chances of passing legislation are almost negligible.