Australian driver stuck in reverse on busy highway

SYDNEY, Mar 13 (Reuters) Police charged an Australian driver with ''reversing further than necessary'' after he travelled backwards for more than 40 km (25 miles) along one of the country's busiest highways.

Police said the man was stopped on the Hume Highway -- which runs between the cities of Sydney and Melbourne -- at Benalla, about 200 km northeast of Melbourne.

Police said the man told them reverse was the only gear in the car that worked and that he was travelling home to the small regional town of Numurkah, a further 90 km away.

He was also charged with unlicensed driving and driving an unregistered car and will appear in court later this year.

REUTERS PV KP1245