Crash case driver loses licence

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A 79-year-old Masterton man with an impeccable driving history has failed in a bid to be discharged without conviction and retain his driver's licence after his wife was injured in a car crash when he failed to give way to oncoming traffic.

On September 28 just after midday Edward Douglas Langford drove through an intersection on the corner of South Rd and Cockburn St, failing to give way to an oncoming car, crashing into the other car then careening into a house on South Rd. Langford's car had to be pulled from the house by a fire engine.

His wife suffered a fractured vertebra along with bruises, taking 12 weeks to heal.

Langford pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving causing injury.

Appearing before Judge Chris Tuohy for Langford's sentencing, lawyer Jock Blathwayt submitted his client's degree of "culpability was small". He didn't realise there was an intersection there, Mr Blathwayt said.

Langford had a previously unblemished driving record spanning 62 years and did a lot of charitable work in the community which he couldn't do if disqualified from driving, he said.

"It was low level ... he has a long, safe driving history."

Mr Blathwayt submitted Langford should be discharged without conviction and retain his licence so he could continue serving the community.

However, Judge Tuohy said while Langford had a previously untarnished record there had been an error in driving involving moderate injuries and damage, and he couldn't step back from a disqualification.

"You have an extensively long and good record as a driver. "

But the intersection he drove through was clearly marked and the road wide enough for motorists to see, he said.

"You clearly did not give way when you obviously needed to."

Many motorists with previously unblemished records had made similar mistakes with their driving "falling below the standard", the judge said.

"It's the nature of human beings to fail."

Judge Tuohy declined the discharge without conviction, convicted Langford and disqualified him from driving for six months. He did not order any other penalty.