Guilty careless driver denies being careless

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A Wairarapa woman who collided with a cyclist told the Masterton District Court on Thursday that she was not a careless driver.

Caroline Harmon, 53, pleaded guilty to one charge of careless driving causing injury, after she failed to see a cyclist at a roundabout in Palmerston North.

Police prosecutor Nicholas Newbery said the defendant was driving along Church St in Palmerston North on the evening of January 30.

As she approached the roundabout at the intersection of Church St and Victoria Ave, the victim was cycling towards the same roundabout from Victoria Ave.

Both the victim and Harmon approached the roundabout with the intention of going straight through.

The defendant failed to look clearly to her right and collided with the victim, who suffered a broken foot and minor injuries in the accident, Mr Newbery said. Harmon accepted responsibility for the accident, but disagreed with the charge.

"I plead guilty to the accident but I don't think I was careless," she said.

Judge Ian Mill explained to Harmon that careless driving occurred almost every day, and although she had a good driving record, in this instance a cyclist was injured.

Judge Mill disqualified Harmon from holding or obtaining a driving licence for six months and ordered her to pay $819 reparation.