:: Driving me Crazy... ::

:: Friday, November 29, 2002 ::

Wow. Seems like a long time since I saw this interface. Still, I knew if I waited long enough, I'd see another nutter on the road. So this evening, on my way to my local supermarket (no names...) I kind of knew what to expect. Between me and my destination is a large-ish roundabout at the end of a dual carriageway, at which I need to turn right. This was about 8:30pm so it's pretty quiet. I threw the car around the island at about 35-40mph. Not normally recommended, but I know the car will do it easily. Then from the exit I've just passed, I see a pair of low headlights- at first I thought it was a Mazda MX3 but it turned out to be a Honda Civic CRX- this is the open-top two-seater from a few years ago. The CRX heads straight for my rear bumper - see, I told you the car was magnetic. I start to accelerate away from the roundabout (more dual carriageway, so it's up to 70) and this CRX is trying (and failing) to stay with me. I need to be in the right lane at the next major junction so I stay in the right lane. It's only about half a mile, and there's only me and the CRX on the road. Makes more sense to stay where I am than change lanes twice. Between me and this junction, there's another set of traffic lights, and the speed limit changes to 40 just before them- I need to peel off into a right-turn filter lane almost immediately after crossing this set of lights. Besides, I know what's about to happen.

I'm completely unsurprised to see the CRX pull alongside at the lights- if I'd changed lanes, he would have been right where I needed to be. I just wish we'd been in Nottingham. Because this bozo goes over the line- do that at the wrong set of lights and it's three points. I can hear him (young lad, baseball cap- though I think he'd worked out which way round it was supposed to go) blipping the accelerator and revving the engine. The lights go to amber, and he's off. Smokes both front tyres and takes off like a rabbit. Three more points. And what did he prove? That his car is faster than mine? That he's a better driver? Fine, if it's that important to him, we'll say his car is faster. It certainly looked well prepared, and I'm sure it's beautifully maintained. Hope that's a comfort when he loses his license, because I've seen mobile speed cameras on that stretch before now. As for being a better driver?

Well, that depends on how you define 'better'.
:: Gary 29.11.02 [+] ::
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