Man Tries To Drive 310 Miles In Reverse - Charged With Reckless Driving

[matcom]

<snip>

SYDNEY, Australia --A 22-year-old man attempted to drive 310 miles in reverse on a remote Outback highway after his transmission failed, blocking his forward gears, police said Friday. The man was stopped by Western Australia state police on Thursday afternoon after they spotted his car roaring in reverse down the highway at about 40 mph, according to a statement.

He was en route to the state capital, Perth, when his transmission failed outside a restaurant in the Outback town of Kalgoorlie, about 300 miles away, according to media reports.

Rather than call a mechanic, the man opted to continue driving, in reverse.

Police said they stopped the man, whose identity was not immediately released, outside the nearby town of Coolgardie, about 12 miles from where his backward journey began.

A breath test for alcohol proved negative, but the man was charged with reckless driving and other traffic offenses, police said. He was ordered to appear before the Coolgardie Magistrates Court on Monday.

http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2006/10/06/man_tries_to_drive_310_miles_in_reverse?mode=PF

[qnr]

1. Wow. Those Perth Chiropractors would have loved him after that. n/t

[tigereye]

2. there's a very funny scene in Smoke Signals

where an Am. Indian woman does just that.... in that case it seemed to be accepted as normal....

[Sequoia]

3. That was my first thought.

That scene never fails to make me laugh.

[qnr]

4. Actually, there are some roads in Australia where you could do that

while taking catnaps, they are so straight.