South Yorkshire Times, February 2nnd, 1934

Lorry and Trackless

Swinton Driver Fined

As an outcome of an accident in Swinton Road, Mexborough, on December 28th, William Jackson, motor driver, Swinton, was summoned at Doncaster on Tuesday for driving to the danger or alternatively without due care; for not having two independent brakes and for not signing his licence.  He pleaded guilty to the last two offences.

Horace Stokes, 5 West Avenue, Rawmarsh, a driver employed by the Mexboro’ and Swinton Traction Co., said he was driving a trolley bus from Mexboro’ to Rotherham.  Entering Swinton Road, Mexborough, he saw a woman with a pram and, coming from the opposite way, a van.  He almost pulled up (his speed before was only four miles an hour) and at that moment felt a severe bump at the rear of the vehicle and another machine scrape the side of the bus.  He pulled up and found Jackson’s lorry had bumped the trolley bus.  Jackson said his clutch slipped and he failed to pull up in time.

Horace Clay, butcher, 31, Wath Road, Mexborough, said as he was passing the trolley bus, Jackson’s lorry cut out. Witness stopped immediately.

P.c. Battarbee, who was on point duty said Jackson’s lorry served about the road when Jackson saw he could not pass the trolley car “I think he lost control, for he turned back into the side of  the “trackless.”   Clay, on stopping, refused to get out of Jackson’s way.  When Jackson’s brakes were tested the foot brake was useless and the hand brake had to be held before it would grip.

Jackson said the trolley bus stopped suddenly to pick up a passenger.  He had to apply his brakes keenly, which resulted in his skidding into the side of the bus.

The summonses for driving to the danger and the licence offences were dismissed, but Jackson was fined a total of £4 on the other summonses.