The Whitstable Times 26 Apr 1941 Careless Driving by a Whitstable Lady Winifred Amelia MURCH of Ellenden Farm Whitstaple Kent

Sarah Hawkins Genealogy Site
Newspaper Articles


The Whitstable Times and Tankerton Press Saturday 26 Apr 1941

Page 1 Column 2


Careless Driving by a Whitstable Lady


At the Faversham County Petty Sessions on Thursday, before Mr. W. H. WILSON (in the chair), Mr. G. SARGENT, Mr. J. BURTON, Mr. J. P. D. BARNES and Mrs. H. S. NEAME, Winifred Amelia MURCH, Ellenden Farm, Whitstable, was summoned for driving a motor car without due care and attention at Boughton on February 27th. Mr. B. A. FRANCIS appeared for the prosecution.

P.C. RANDALL stated that at 10.45 a.m. he was driving up Stockers Hill, Boughton, in the direction of Canterbury, following the car driven by defendant, which in turn was following a lorry. When about halfway between the 30 mile sign and Bull Lane defendant drew out on to the off side of the white line and commenced to overtake the lorry. At about this point the road narrowed perceptibly and just as both vehicles were in this narrow point another vehicle travelling in the opposite direction appeared on the brow of the hill. Defendant turned sharply to recover her near side of the road, causing the lorry driver to brake suddenly. Witness pursued defendant and stopped her and she said “What had I done wrong now?” He pointed out to her the danger of overtaking at the place where she passed the lorry and she replied, “I should think you ought to speak to the lorry driver. I have been driving for 20 years and have never had an accident.” He pointed out to her that it was only the skill of the lorry driver which had averted a collision. When told she would be reported she said, “I suppose if I agreed with you that I was driving badly you would not report me?”

In a letter to the Bench, defendant asserted that she had a clear view for a considerable distance and suggested that the police officer was not very busy that day.

The Chairman said that the very fact of pulling out at this spot was in itself dangerous. From his own experience as a driver he knew that one could not see over the brow of this hill. Defendant would be fined £2 and £2/2/0 costs and the licence would be endorsed.

 

Back to Miscellaneous Page

Back to Home Page