South Yorkshire Times and Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 11 May 1934
Conisboro’ Man Retires from Traffic
“I shall never drive a car again,” said George Herbert Taylor, a Conisborough greengrocer, when summoned at Doncaster on Tuesday for driving a motor lorry in a dangerous manner or without due care.
Inspector Redfern said that at 9-30 a.m. on March 27th, William Henry Hodder, of Worksop, was driving a bus from Doncaster to Dinnington. After passing Clifton Lane end he came up in Doncaster Road, Braithwell, with a lorry driven by defendant.
Hodder, desiring to pass, sounded his horn and defendant drew in to the side of the road. As the bus was passing the lorry, the latter swerved into the middle of the road and the bus driver, to avoid a collision, had to drive into a hedge, smashing it down for several yards and damaging the vehicle.
Defendant drove on for a hundred yards, stopped, looked round, and then drove on again. The bus driver overtook Taylor at Maltby, and on examining defendant’s lorry found he could turn the steering wheel completely round without turning the wheels.
Hodder and a passenger in the bus gave similar evidence.
Taylor said it was the first time he had been involved in an accident. He denied driving dangerously and that he swerved towards the bus. He had since sold the lorry.
The Chairman (Mr. G. E. Cooke-Yarborough): “I hope you are not going to drive again. We think you are not exactly the type to drive.”
Defendant: “I shall never drive again. I have had this lorry only eight months. I used to drive years ago, but things have changed now. There is so much traffic and you must have good nerves.”
The Chairman: “Under those circumstances we will deal leniently with you. You will be fined 40s. for driving without due care and you can pay at the rate of 5s. a week.”