The A1 - What a load of b*llocks - Everyone versus me.

[whygee02]

Earlier tonight did the nice stretch of A1 in the Elise from Novotel to Washington to drop the missus off for a girly night out. I know the A1 is full of dangerously bad drivers at the best of times but jeez. It was pitch black, drizzling slightly, I'm trying to drive sensibly and safely, given the missus is a nervous passenger, keeping distances between cars etc etc. Seemed like EVERYONE was driving like a loon. At one point I'm in lane 1, HGV in front so I'm keeping a modest speed and distance, had a vectra 1 foot away from my arse, a car in lane 2 who HAD to take the turn off so trying to push his way off, and a car to the left on the sliproad deciding he has to be joining lane 1 in front of me.

And it was pretty much a similar story for the entire journey.

One of those journeys where you think is it me - I'm driving like a good boy - advanced driver license etc etc - and yet I seem to be the only one with ANY common sense

I've seen the many posts about Lotus brining out the worst in other drivers, but this was something else.

Dunno if its
a) Because I'm in the Lotus
b) Other drivers being in their quiet comfort zone, not knowing the potential danger of their driving.
c) Other drivers just generally being sh*t.
d) The nature of the A1 with its many slip roads on and off.

Probably a combination of them all.

I'm quite capable of driving like a loon myself, I know its not big and clever, so thats why I keep it for the quiet weekend B roads where the conditions allow.

Picking her up in a few hours and I'm taking her Clio !!!

Edited by whygee02 on Friday 26th October 21:21

[britten_mark]

I know what you mean, commented to my passenger today that if I'm on any road of more than 1 carriageway I always feel like I'm being raced. Everyone seems so bloody competitive these days.

[whygee02]

Absolute cr*p mate - I have a new found appreciation for speed/safety given what the Elise is, and I genuinely did not feel safe - quite scared if I'm honest - hence the clio later on - NCAP 5 and all that. Doesn't change anything but at least I've not got the 'Elise' factor to add to it !!

[pbirkett]

What, the A1 actually moves fast enough for people to race?

I use a small section of it every day to go to and from work and to be honest, either I am used to it, or it just doesnt seem to happen to me, which is strange because I too am in a car that should positively invite such antics.

[whygee02]

pbirkett said:

What, the A1 actually moves fast enough for people to race?

I use a small section of it every day to go to and from work and to be honest, either I am used to it, or it just doesnt seem to happen to me, which is strange because I too am in a car that should positively invite such antics.

Howdy pie eater

I think you probably do get used to it - I used to use it on my daily commute, but now only use it once in a blue moon. When you come back to it you appreciate how sh*t it really is. Even more so in a 3 ft tall car.