Vehicles a Danger to Other Road Users
Page 51
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
'TWO drivers of goods vehicles were
fined last week at Wath, North Riding, for allowing.their vehicles to rest in such circumstances as were likely to cause danger. For the police it was stated that the intention of one section of the new 1960 Act was to try to put a check on the recent toll of fatal accidents as a rekilt of vehicles being left where they were a danger to other road users..
The drivers, E D. Hedderick of Liverpool and D. Hampson of Kirkby, Lanes --both driving for the same firm—were, last September, travelling along the Great North Road near Kirklington.
Hampson was in the leading lorry. It was 5 a.m., the roads were wet and greasy and swirling fog reduced visibility to between five and 35 yards. Hedderick, who thought his vehicle was having tyre trouble, flashed his lights to Hampson that he wanted to stop, and both vehicles
came to rest on the road about 300 yards short of a lay-by.
. The drivers could have taken one of three precautions, the magistrates were told. • They could have gone back down the road to warn following traffic; they could have pulled on to the grass verge; or travelled on and used the lay-by.
While standing on the roadway, a third lorry crashed into the rear of Hedderick's vehicle, and yet another lorry piled into the third vehicle. The drivers and mates of both vehicles were killed. Almost immediately a car came on the scene and was also involved in the collision.
For the defendants, it was .submitted that if the vehicles following had not been travelling too fast, there would have been no accident.
The drivers were found guilty and each fined £10. They were ordered to share the costs of £30.