funny but true

[Geoff_N]

In today's Guardian is the following account. The e-version misses the last half so I copied it out for you guys.

The first line leaves you open-mouthed, but as you read on it gets worse.

enjoy
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Blind Iraqi drove car

A blind Iraqi man arrested for driving a car while his friend, a banned driver, was giving directions, received a suspended 12-week prison sentence yesterday.
Omed Aziz, 31, who lost his eyes in a bomb blast in Iraq, drove at up to 35mph on the Oldbury ring road, West Midlands, in April. His friend was giving instructions from the passenger seat.
Police were alerted when Aziz drove on the wrong side of the road. He was found guilty of dangerous driving at Walkey magistrates court.
There was bafflement in court when he was told he must take an extended test if he wanted to drive again.

Sentencing was delayed when the chair of Magistrates asked Aziz to chance a T-shirt, which read B4d Moth3rfuck3r. After sentencing, Aziz refused to comment and pointed to the slogan on his T-shirt.
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Geoff

[Ed]

Crazy    You would have thought his mate would have told him he was on the wrong side of the road, wouldn't you?

[SharonBell]

Okay, what's the problem here?  Was he driving on the right side of the road for the US? Maybe he just needs to switch navigators. Maybe get a talking GPS. 

[canadian]

I think he just decided to go and check out one of those drive-through instant tellers with Braille on all the buttons!

[SharonBell]

Was he driving with a deaf friend, d'ya think? 

[Geoff_N]

An amusing angle is that they probably thought they were doing the right thing - the driver had a licence, the passenger could see and drive but had no licence - so what law were they breaking (in their minds)? Back in Iraq there are probably hundreds of car accidents caused by blind drivers!

I have a neice who is a new magistrate. She thinks its possible that magistrate couldn't ban the blind man from driving for ever (invalidate his licence permanently), but did have the power to enforce a retest, which has the same effect.

Geoff
hey, check my blog! http://geoffnelder.wordpress.com/

[Ed]

Yeah - in a third world country it's probably an everyday thing.  I keep imagining a guide dog in the passenger seat, yelling, "For the love of Allah, left! - left! - left! BRAKE!!!"