A driver who followed sat nav directions which took him into oncoming traffic on the wrong side of the A24 has been banned from getting behind the wheel for a year.
Peter Byrne turned the wrong way into oncoming traffic, ignoring the clear road signs in front of him, onto the A24 at Southwater.
Roads Policing Unit PC Mark Gregory was confronted with Byrne’s vehicle travelling towards him.
Byrne, 46, formerly a teacher of High Salvington, charged with dangerous driving and failing to comply with road traffic signs.
He admitted failing to comply with the road traffic signs, and was found guilty of dangerous driving at a hearing at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 20 February.
PC 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“Satnavs are a tool of modern driving, but there may be occasions where the information is out of date for the road layouts, incorrect, or may not take into account temporary road changes.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.”
Byrne was sentenced to a one-year driving disqualification, subject to taking an extended retest. He was fined £4,615, and must also pay £650 court costs and a surcharge of £1,846.
