1’s teo chew nang

27 Jun 2006
M. Husairy Othman
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TAIPING: An 80-year-old man in his vintage Morris Minor, was travelling along the North-South Expressway (NSE) at 60kph yesterday afternoon. Nothing unusual about that.

Except that he was driving against the flow of traffic for almost 30km, and when stopped by highway officials, he had two questions: “Why are there so many cars on the road these days and why were all of them flashing their headlights at me?”

This was the drama that unfolded at the highway rest area near Taiping about noon yesterday when he could not turn into the slip road leading to his house in Bagan Samak, Kedah, as it was closed for repairs.

The man, known in his village as Ah Pee, had driven to Parit Buntar in Perak, using the trunk road, to pay his assessment fee.

He was on his way back when he realised that the road leading to his village was closed due to repairs.

He travelled for 500m and found a second left turn, thinking it would take him home. That turn, however, led to the Bandar Baru toll plaza. He did not realise he was on the NSE and drove for 37km when he reached the Taiping rest area.

It was then he realised he was on the wrong track and made a U-turn.

He drove for 29.9km against the flow of traffic in the fast lane, oblivious to the honking and flashing of headlights from oncoming vehicles.

A traffic police personnel who was manning a radar gun on a hill along the NSE spotted him driving at Km200.

“He was driving between 60 and 70kph and I could see the befuddled look in his eyes as the oncoming vehicles flashed their headlights at him,” he said yesterday.

Projek Lebuhraya Utara Selatan (PLUS) officials swung into action upon being informed by motorists. Two PLUS teams were dispatched to intercept Ah Pee.

The first team, stationed at Km196 of the NSE, failed to stop him as he drove past them just as they were parking their 4WD vehicle at a designated spot.

The second team, stationed further north at Km186, attracted Ah Pee’s attention when they switched on their headlights and siren and gestured at him to stop.

“I ran to his car when he pulled over about 50m away and ordered him to move over to the passenger seat before parking the car in the emergency lane,” the official said.

“It was unbelievable.

“I asked him why he drove in such a manner and he replied that it was his right of way since he was driving on the left lane.”

The official said that Ah Pee believed that he had not endangered himself or other motorists.

“He expressed surprise at the number of cars on the road these days.”

“He even complained that most of them were flashing their headlights at him for no reason,” he said.

“We decided that it was a genuine mistake on his part as he had never used the NSE before and escorted him back to his house in Bagan Samak.”

One of the officials drove Ah Pee’s car with the other in tow and he arrived home before 3pm.

“I told him to ask for a lift from his children the next time he went for a drive,” the official added.

Source: New Straits Times

this is pretty hilarious… which could only happen in movies - starring Rowan Atkinson! kekeke