You’d think there are only two places a car should never end up: a swimming pool…or a pedestrian footbridge. But apparently, some cars just want to live a little dangerously. Especially in a small river town in England. And yet every year, drivers somehow find themselves squeezing into tunnels that are too small, following GPS directions onto boat ramps, driving down hiking trails, or, believe it or not, getting stranded on footbridges designed for pedestrians and cyclists.
That’s exactly what happened this week in Hessle, England, where a 90-year-old driver and his trusty car attempted the ultimate shortcut. Right onto a riverside footbridge, only to be heroically stopped by the real MVP: a stubborn bollard. According to BBC News, the Humberside Police were called shortly before 11:00 BST after reports came in of a car being driven along the footpath on Clive Sullivan Way towards Hessle Foreshore.
Thankfully, no pedestrians were injured during the incident. Police later issued the driver, a 90-year-old man, a traffic offense report for driving without due care. Fortunately, nobody walking along the path was injured either. But the scene left locals scratching their heads and asking: “Wait, is this the new drive-thru lane? Or just the world’s slowest car chase?”
It Wasn’t the First Time
Car driven by man, 90, gets stuck on footbridge – full story ⬇️ https://t.co/yZwuh8RvjD
— BBC East Yorkshire (@looknorthBBC) July 6, 2026
The local officials say this wasn’t even the first time someone’s tried to enter the Hessle Grand Prix via the pedestrian route. Hessle Ward councilor David Nolan said vehicles have ended up on this same route before, despite signs saying, basically, “Please don’t do exactly this.” He’s now considering barriers so strong, even a determined SatNav couldn’t break through.
Once drivers pass the entrance, there’s little room to turn around. The path narrows, curves toward the river, and eventually ends at a fixed bollard. By then, the only way out is usually with a recovery truck—and a story you’ll never live down at the pub. It sounds unbelievable, but transportation experts say unusual driving mistakes happen more often than many people realize.
Sometimes drivers become distracted. Sometimes unfamiliar roads, poor visibility, confusing layouts, or navigation systems lead them somewhere unexpected. In other cases, motorists simply misread a sign or don’t notice they’re entering an area intended only for pedestrians or cyclists.
The result is often less about reckless driving and more about a series of small decisions that snowball into a situation that’s difficult to recover from. By the time many drivers realize something isn’t right, there’s nowhere left to safely turn around.
The Rescue Wasn’t Simple
Getting the vehicle back to solid ground required more than simply backing it up. Local officials had to remove a protective bollard at the end of the footbridge so the car could be rescued, proving once again that even inanimate objects sometimes have to step aside for human error.
The council says the barrier will be replaced and is reviewing additional ways to discourage unauthorized vehicles from entering the pedestrian route. Officials also noted that previous barriers at the entrance have reportedly been damaged or removed over the years, making it easier for vehicles to access the path.
People Couldn’t Help But Laugh — Then Think Twice
Photos of cars in unusual places almost always make the rounds on social media. Many people joke with the familiar phrase, “You can’t park there, mate,” but incidents like this usually have a much more serious side. A wrong turn onto a pedestrian path could easily endanger walkers, cyclists, or families enjoying a day outside.
Fortunately, police said no pedestrians were injured in this incident. For everyone else, it’s another reminder that even on familiar roads, it pays to slow down, pay attention to signs, and remember that sometimes the most unusual traffic stories begin with just one wrong turn.