Mexborough and Swinton Times February 21, 1936

“Risked It” Once Too Often
Rotherham Motor Cyclists Fined
Crash at Conisborough

an accident in Sheffield Road, Conisborough November 2, in which a Rotherham motorcyclist Andy Bentley cyclists were involved, any sequel at Doncaster on Tuesday, when George France, miner, of Wortley Rotherham, was summoned for driving a motorcycle in a dangerous manner, and for failing to sign his driving licence.

France, who pleaded not guilty, contended that he was temporarily blinded by the headlights of a car. He was fined £3 on the first count, and had his licence endorsed, and was ordered to pay 4 shilling costs on the second.

Run Into From Behind

Superintendent Gordon said that the accident occurred at Conisborough on November 2, about 9:15 PM. Lane was pushing a cycle along the road towards Sheffield, when he heard a motorcycle coming up from behind. Without warning, Lane was knocked into the hedge and sustained injury to his leg. Defendant later said to him that he was blinded by the lights of an oncoming car, and added that he did not see Lane.

Ephraim Lane, unemployed labour, Townend, Bentley, said that he was pushing a cycle on the left-hand side of Sheffield Road, in the direction of Sheffield. His bicycle was fully equipped with a red rear full reflector, a white disc, and an electric battery lamp in front. A car passing, and he had nothing unusual. About two minutes later he was struck in the back and knocked into the hedge. His bicycle was dragged forward 10 or 12 yard. There was a streetlamp opposite the scene of the accident. The defendant said that he never saw witness.

In reply to Mr L. H Brittain, defending, witness agreed that the road was wet at the time. He was not occupying more of the road than he was entitled to.

Witness continue that he asked defendant to was going to pay for the damage, and he said, “It was not my fault.” He later added that he was sorry and that it was a pure accident. He said that he had been dazzled by the car, and witness contradicted him. Witness said: “You are trying to get over a dozen dazzles.” Witness did not agree that it was a pure accident or that it was due to the darkness of the road.

Eloquent Pillion Passenger

Frederick Said, unemployed farm labourer, South Gosforth, Newcastle on Tyne said that Lane was walking up the road 5 yards in front of him. A car passed them, and two minutes elapsed before the motorcycle came on the scene. It ran into the back wheel of the cycle, which was dragged a few yards up the road and the cyclist was knocked down. The defendant was riding his motorcycle with a lady passenger on the pillion, and came back to say that he had been blinded by the car’s headlights. Witness contradicted that, and said that the car that passed a good way down the road.

The pillion passenger had a lot to say, was making references to wanted to be off. She said “:, Come on kid, let’s get be going. Give him £3.” The cyclist’s foot was bleeding at the back of the heel, and he was hardly able to put his weight on it.

In reply to Mr Brittan, witness said that the motorcar had good headlights. Motorcyclist was travelling at a moderate speed on his proper side of the road.

PC Bowman said that defendant reported to him that he had had an accident. After being cautioned he made a voluntary statement to the effect that he was riding his 2 ¼ HP motorcycle on his correct side of the road, and was travelling about 18 mph. A young lady friend was namely did not wish to give was riding on the pillion. He had got about 30 yards past the fat works just before reaching the Ben when he saw the light of a motor vehicle approaching. When he got on the bend he saw a motorcar with powerful headlights. He dimmed his front electric light and the motorist dimmed his stop

Francis statement continued that as soon as it passed the car he saw red rear reflector only 2 yards in front. You swerve to the right, but could not avoid the bicycle. Is left handlebar caught the bicycle and he was son, receiving bruises to the elbow right knee, and his pillion passenger was bruised on the right knee. In his opinion the accident was caused by his being temporarily blinded by the headlights of the oncoming car and by the dimming of his own headlight.

15 Years Experience

Mr Brittan said that the defendant had been driving motorcycle since 1921 and had only one conviction in connection with insurance against him. He was riding a small motorcycle up a steep gradient with a pillion passenger on, and would say that he was in third gear. The powerful headlights of the car causes temporary blindness, and the first time he saw anything the cyclist was 2 yards away. He then swerved and did his best to avoid an accident.

France said it was incorrect that two minutes elapsed between the passing of the car and the accident. He saw the cycle 2 yards ahead and he was doing about 18 miles an hour.

In reply to superintendent Gordon, France said that neither Lane or himself forcibly. It was a pure accident.

In reply to a question by the superintendent if he knew it was his duty to stop if he was blinded by the car’s headlights, France said that he was risking it, and added that he had risked it for 15 years without an accident.