There are plenty of friends out there. Some are closer than family and others are mere acquaintances. For Omed Aziz, his friend was willing to risk his life, Aziz's life and a few other late night motorists in an effort to give Aziz a piece of his world back.Omed Aziz lost both of his eyes during an explosion in Iraq. He also left behind a few digits from his hands, most of his hearing and now suffers from severe tremors in his legs. With that in mind, you could image the Oldbury police's surprise when they found Aziz driving a Peugeot in the wrong lane, while taking direction from his friend in the passenger seat.
Although legally blind and certainly impaired, the police reported that Aziz masterfully made his way around a few corners and a roundabout, before crossing into oncoming traffic.
Aziz now holds the distinction of being the first blind motorist ever convicted of reckless driving in the U.K., while his co-pilot is awaiting trial for aiding and abetting dangerous driving.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
Alex Nunez @ Sep 6th 2006 4:10PM
Insert "Scent of a Woman" joke here...
Sean Flanagan @ Sep 6th 2006 4:12PM
Someone has been watching (listening?) too much TopGear...
Mr. Oblong @ Sep 6th 2006 4:24PM
So classic.
menice @ Sep 6th 2006 4:35PM
good for him, it would stink to be in his shoes, much less never drive again.
just should have done it in a field or parking lot
glad no one got hurt.
Mustang @ Sep 6th 2006 5:26PM
He should go buy a used car and enter a few demolish derbys...LOL
Szyszek @ Sep 6th 2006 5:33PM
Aziz, light!
glitched @ Sep 6th 2006 5:41PM
what's with the fifth element reference?
glacia00 @ Sep 6th 2006 5:41PM
Beyond stupid.
Howard Kerr @ Sep 6th 2006 9:48PM
Now, if this guy had been stopped in the U.S. he could have grabbed a cell phone, jammed it into his ear, and he probably would have gotten off with just a verbal warning.
MikeW @ Sep 6th 2006 10:22PM
aiding and abetting dangerous driving
What a crock.
How about self-preservation, ie not crashing.
MacroEQ @ Sep 7th 2006 8:07AM
Apparently the police officer asked the driver whether he was blind.... the driver took off his sunglasses to which he replied "yes" and the police officer to his surprise saw that the man "had no eyes" - scary.
Being in the UK though, he will probably be given a Knighthood and not deported back to Iraq (where he came from) and will be given the keys to the city.
EMS1 @ Sep 7th 2006 9:31AM
Sounds like how I was driving the last time I was in the UK! Takes a few days to get acquainted to that left side driving.
roy @ Sep 8th 2006 4:48AM
Was this guys name Lucky?
Sam Croy @ Sep 8th 2006 1:26PM
Blind Drunk:
Did the same thing about 28 years ago. Only on a GoldWing Murder Cycle. (pun intended) Both were blind drunk. Road about 6 miles behind my blind friend and "telked" him through the whole ride into his driveway. I never touched any controls for the whole ride. His wife saw us pull into the driveway and went balistic. But we had a witness!
Marilyn @ Sep 8th 2006 9:48PM
I don't know who's dumber....the guy driving who has no eyes or the guy getting into a car with a blind driver!
Mr. Firefighter @ Sep 9th 2006 10:12PM
Now let's look at the positives here....
Brad @ Sep 11th 2006 6:33AM
If I had witnessed this guy on the road and knew his situation then I would hopefully had been in my old truck and then just waited until no traffic was around and pulled a pit maneuveur on him.Man that would have felt good to do.I have these same feelings at times(although I would never actually do it)when I see someone driving under the speed limit in the passing lane.
Angie @ Sep 11th 2006 6:52AM
Come on you guys. This poor man has lost so much, the article did not clarify whether he sustained all these horrific injuries in combat or as a civilian. Having lost all this, I imagine he just wanted to feel SOME NORMALCY. Everyone is so quick to judge. Granted it wasnt a safe move, but no one was hurt and I am sure the friend would have intervened had any car/pedestrians/motorcycles, etc been around. Poor guy.
Lorenzo @ Sep 11th 2006 7:37AM
Shows that a back-seat (ok, front passenger seat) driver can provide invaluable directions. Also, if road signs were printed in braille, would he have been ok? Curious that they stopped him on the wrong side of the road. His co-pilot was probably some darn American who forgot that it's the British who drive on the wrong side of the road. Seriously, leave the guy alone. He's suffered enough and wants to at least recapture part of his fully healthy self.
Mark7 @ Sep 11th 2006 8:05AM
Two more candidates for the Darwin award.