Skip to main content

A short cut to danger

Drivers relying on GPS systems sometimes find themselves stuck in narrow roads or trying to locate bridges that have yet to be constructed. However three Norwegian tourists travelling in Brazil had a rather more hair-raising experience. The men were driving back from a beach resort north of Rio on their way to drop off the vehicle at the airport when their GPS unit told them to drive off the main highway. Unfortunately, the suggested short cut took the men through the dangerous Mare slum area where the car
July 6, 2012 Read time: 1 min
Drivers relying on GPS systems sometimes find themselves stuck in narrow roads or trying to locate bridges that have yet to be constructed. However three Norwegian tourists travelling in Brazil had a rather more hair-raising experience. The men were driving back from a beach resort north of Rio on their way to drop off the vehicle at the airport when their GPS unit told them to drive off the main highway. Unfortunately, the suggested short cut took the men through the dangerous Mare slum area where the car then came under fire from suspected drug dealers. Although the driver was hit, he managed to drive the vehicle to safety and after he received medical treatment the three curtailed their holiday and flew back to Norway.

Related Content

  • Get out of my way!
    May 1, 2018
    Paramedics responding to a serious medical emergency in the UK said that they were disgusted when they returned to their ambulance to find a note attached to the windscreen. The note complained that the vehicle had blocked a driveway, preventing a person from moving a car. The paramedics received praise for their efforts in saving the life of someone who had been taken seriously ill, while criticisms were aimed at the selfishness of the unnamed complainant who wrote the note. The writer later admitted his s
  • Music on the go
    January 7, 2019
    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] MUSIC ON THE GO Video footage shot in Spain recently reveals the driver of a car playing guitar while at the wheel. The passenger in a car driving past shot the video clip as the vehicles travelled along a major highway route. The strumming driver was presumed to be steering with his knees at the time. Qui
  • The hanging Honda
    August 10, 2018
    Police in Toronto are still mystified as to how and why a stripped-out Honda was left dangling from a busy bridge. At first it was thought the car had been placed there as part of a movie shoot, but it was quickly realised that this was not the case and no request had been filed to carry out such a stunt. The car was stripped of any identification as well as many mechanical components, reducing its weight sufficiently for it to be suspended from a single cable. After a period left hanging, the vehicle was l
  • Skidmarks: Scaring speeders
    February 6, 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]