A former teacher who drove the wrong way down the A24 dual carriageway at Southwater, narrowly avoiding a head-on collision, has been sentenced.
Worthing Magistrates’ Court heard that Peter Byrne, from High Salvington, ignored road signs and followed incorrect satnav directions, leading to the dangerous incident in March 2024.
The 46-year-old has been banned from driving for a year and must pass a re-test before regaining his license, he was also given a fine and ordered to pay court costs.
Roads Policing Unit PC Mark Gregory said: “Byrne said it was a momentary lapse of concentration, and said he was following a satnav which told him to turn left.
“He had not seen the very obvious and clear road signs that stated ‘no left turn’.
“As a result, he risked a head-on collision with oncoming traffic around a bend, which put his own safety and the safety of other road users at high risk.
“Satnavs are a tool of modern driving, but there may be occasions where the information is out of date for the road layouts, incorrect, or may not take into account temporary road changes.
“The case highlights that drivers must be more aware of road signs and directions, and not just simply follow a satnav instruction. Byrne has learned this expensive lesson in court, but is also fortunate not to have caused a serious collision.”
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