STOCKHOLM - A 79-year-old motorist in Sweden who hadn't driven to town in more than 40 years told a court he was stunned to discover that the country had switched from left to right-hand traffic -- in 1967.
The man, whose name was not disclosed, was in court in the southern Swedish town of Karlskrona on a charge of reckless driving after he backed into traffic coming in the opposite direction, forcing motorists in both directions to slam on the brakes, the local daily Sydoestran reported.
He then crashed into a traffic light, sending it toppling and causing damage to the rear of his car, before continuing driving.
A police car with sirens and flashing lights wasn't enough to get the man to pull over, so police had to use their patrol car to cut him off in the middle of the road.
The man, from the small town of Holmsjoe north of Karlskrona, told the court he had not driven in Karlskrona for more than 40 years and was unaware that Sweden had switched to driving on the right side of the road in 1967.
He said he had got lost while taking his car in for a routine inspection.
He was sentenced to a fine, the amount of which was not disclosed.
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