Martians to Blame For french Reckless Driving ?

MARSEILLE, Jan 1, 2003; Reuters reports that a Frenchman who raced through a motorway road block, triggering a high-speed police car chase that ended in a minor crash, has blamed aliens from Mars for his reckless driving.

Under police custody in a hospital in the Mediterranean city of Marseille, the 42-year-old told police he was being "chased by Martians" when he charged through a road block on the A55 motorway on Monday evening, police sources said.

A breathalyser test for alcohol proved negative, but police are still awaiting the results of drugs tests and a psychiatric examination.

France, which has one of the worst accident rates in Europe with more than 8,000 road deaths each year, is in the process of stiffening its speeding and drink-driving laws to try and reduce the carnage on its roads.