White-line panic as oldie dozes
2012-08-15 11:45
ON THE WRONG SIDE: An Australian pensioner's dangerous driving was caught on multiple CCTV cameras. He was driving on the wrong side of the road, through oncoming traffic, for 13km.
Melbourne, Australia - A pensioner has been banned from driving for driving for 13km against the traffic flow on a freeway in Australia.
Ronald Jackson, 81, was recorded on several CCTV cameras as he headed into oncoming traffic with other drivers swerving to avoid a head-on crash, one of them a truck.
NONCHALANT DRIVER
Jackson continued blithely onward, through a tunnel, over bridges and alongside a river - all on the wrong side of the road.
The videos showed three lanes of horrified drivers slamming on brakes as Jackson approaches, yet he still failed to stop, instead weaving through the traffic. A driver from the operator of the Citylink Toll Road in Melbourne, Australia, even made an attempt to flag him down - Jackson took no notice.
A magistrates' court heard the pensioner had had a driving licence for 63 years and had passed a refresher course shortly before the incident.
HEALTH ISSUES
His lawyer said Jackson had, unknowingly, had a stroke just before his abberant drive which could have caused his confusion. His only previous offence was speeding nearly 30 years earlier.
"He'd never driven badly," Flynn told the court. "He was under some health issues and he won't be driving again in Victoria."
Jackson pleaded guilty to reckless driving and was fined the equivalent of about R13 000.
