The Speedometer as an Independent Witness
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AAGISTRATES in some parts of the country 1111.are accepting the speedometer as an independent witness when coupled with the evidence of an Officer of the mobile force. Whether this be legal or not, the practice appears to us to be unfair to the accused and liable to lend itself to misuse. We do not suggest that, as a class, the police pervert the truth, but cases of evidence being exaggerated to obtain convictions are not unknown, and we cannot see that the word of a constable is more trustworthy when backed by the evidence of a speedometer.
It is still the human element which has to be taken into account, and to err is human. A stand should be made against any speed-indicating mechanism, other than possibly a thoroughly tested graph-type of instrument, being accepted as a second witness.