"Brimstone" wrote in message
...
Very dumb it would seem.

Cyclists complain about being vulnerable and other road users not showing
proper consideration, but here's one cyclist who managed to get hit by a
vehicle travelling on a completely different road and suffered the
ultimate price.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7982910.stm

"Train kills cyclist on crossing


It's very common for car drivers to do this, but this local one was a real
first. Last month some drunk driver followed his SatNav and drove *up* a
railway line!

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/...nav.5080008.jp

Published Date: 17 March 2009

A DISORIENTATED drink-driver ended up on a railway line after becoming
confused at his sat nav's instructions to turn right at a level crossing.
Satlegh Agha Satlkh Mohammadi obeyed the electronic guide to the letter and
trundled 20 feet down the tracks, to the horror of Network Rail staff in
Goole, East Yorkshire.

Workers managed to flag down police who arrested the Iranian national at the
scene and found he was nearly twice over the legal drink-drive limit.

His Ford Fiesta then had to be removed as it was completely blocking the
line.

Goole Magistrates today gave the 42-year-old, who only held a provisional
licence, a 20-month driving ban and ordered him to carry out 80 hours of
unpaid work .

They had heard railway engineers working on the Doncaster to Hull line
flagged down police just after midnight on February 10 this year.

Teresa Slater, prosecuting, said: "They pointed to a Ford Fiesta which had
driven on to the railway line and stopped 20 feet from the crossing.

"When interviewed later he told police that he had listened to the
instructions of his satellite navigation system.

"That had told him to turn right at the level crossing so he had done so."

The turning he had needed was 50 yards away from the level crossing.

After his arrest Mohammadi was found to have 64mgs of alcohol in his breath.
The legal limit is 35mg.

Ms Slater added that Mohammadi had drunk two beers two hours previously, and
had driven from his home in Derbyshire to Goole to look for employment
despite the unsociable hour.

Defending, Emma Appleton said: "He has expressed genuine remorse for this
one-off offence. He has no previous convictions, and a driving
disqualification will be a punishment for him."

Mohammadi admitted charges of drink driving and endangering life on the
railway at an earlier hearing.

Chairman of the bench Ray Guthrie banned him from driving for 20 months,
which can be reduced to 15 months if he completes a drink-driving
rehabilitation programme. He was also given a community order for 12 months
with an 80 hours unpaid work requirement, and handed a supervision order for
a year which will be used to help him get a job. He will also have to pay
£60 pounds costs.


--
Simon Mason
http://www.simonmason.karoo.net/