57. Fine in lieu of damages and imprisonment in addition to damages.

(1) Where a person is convicted of an offence under the next preceding section of this Act and it is proved to the satisfaction of the Court by whom such person is so convicted that injury (other than an excluded injury as defined in this section) was caused to person or property by the negligent driving on the occasion on which such offence was committed of the vehicle in relation to which such offence was committed and such Court is of opinion that some person then present in or represented before such Court would be entitled to recover in a civil action against the person so convicted damages in respect of such injury, such Court may, if it thinks fit so to do and the person so present or represented so consents, inflict on the person so convicted, in addition to any other punishment authorised by the said next preceding section, a fine not exceeding the damages which in the opinion of such Court the person so present or represented would be entitled so to recover against the p