Wrong-way motorway driver 'became confused after flight to UK'

Police in England have released video footage of an elderly motorist who drove for six miles in the wrong direction on a motorway after he became confused after returning on a flight to the UK.

Keith Taylor pulled onto the hard shoulder of the M23 motorway in Sussex before making a U-turn, heading south on the northbound carriageway.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "Despite oncoming headlights and evasive action taken by other motorists, the errant driver's blue Volkswagen Polo hatchback continued doggedly in the wrong direction until police caught up with him near Maidenbower, Crawley."

This motorist diced with death on the #M23 driving SIX miles the wrong way 🛣 Read more ➡️ https://t.co/Pvv8aZf0Ww pic.twitter.com/SEr1cyMeFr

— Sussex Police (@sussex_police) August 12, 2016

The 79-year-old, from New Road, Burnham Overy Staithe, King's Lynn, Norfolk, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and was sentenced on July 25 by Norfolk magistrates to six months' imprisonment, suspended for two years.

He was also disqualified from driving for two years and told he must take an extended driving test before reapplying for his licence.

PC Mark Botevyle said that it appeared that the motorist had earlier left an inbound flight at Gatwick Airport but had then become confused as to which way he should be driving.

He added: "In more than 15 years as a police officer I have never encountered anything with such potential to have caused a major tragedy.

"The M23 was busy with traffic and it was only by sheer chance that no collision occurred. Clearly there was potential for a major pile-up and I am still amazed that this incident did not have more serious consequences."