Skip to main content

Holiday surprise

A German couple arriving back in the city of Düsseldorf after a vacation had an unwelcome surprise with the car service they had arranged to pick them up from the airport. The vehicle that arrived to ferry them back to the car park where they had left their car was in fact their own, and they were understandably less than pleased. The car owners immediately looked at the odometer, which revealed an unwelcome truth. During their holiday break the car had been used to shuttle numerous passengers between the,
December 13, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
A German couple arriving back in the city of Düsseldorf after a vacation had an unwelcome surprise with the car service they had arranged to pick them up from the airport. The vehicle that arrived to ferry them back to the car park where they had left their car was in fact their own, and they were understandably less than pleased. The car owners immediately looked at the odometer, which revealed an unwelcome truth. During their holiday break the car had been used to shuttle numerous passengers between the, supposedly, secure car park and the airport terminal. So often had the car been used on this comparatively short journey, it had clocked up over 400km. It has not been reported how the parking company compensated the couple for the unauthorised (and illegal) use of the car. But it seems likely that the next time the couple fly away on a vacation break they will use other transport means to travel to and from Düsseldorf airport.

Related Content

  • Riding the sustainable cycle
    October 5, 2020
    It’s taken a while in North America, but “vehicular cycling” has been replaced by “sustainable cycling”, says transportation engineer Tyler Golly.
  • Red light stop
    June 27, 2014
    A driver in the UK was issued with a parking ticket, when stopped at a red light. The driver was issued the parking ticket as his vehicle was spotted halted at a bus stop. After the driver appealed, the local authorities admitted that issuing the parking ticket had been a mistake. Also in the UK, a Welshman received a rather unpleasant surprise when he opened his post. He had been sent fines for driving his vehicle in a bus lane and parking illegally in London, around 400km away.
  • Rebuilding a historic bridge linking the US and Canada
    March 8, 2016
    While many road authorities in North America are finding it difficult to stretch their bridge assets beyond half a century, one bridge is closing in on its centenary - David Arminas reports The international Peace Bridge, connecting the Canadian province of Ontario with the US state of New York, is 88 years young this year, and still going strong.
  • Skidmarks: Hot Sauce
    February 25, 2020
    Our Skidmarks page is highly rated by readers. Your input could help make this page even more entertaining. If you come across any amusing road-related stories or pictures email me at [email protected]