A1 cruise control

[silverthorn2151]

From time to time I have need to drive to the dark and depressing northern parts of this blessed isle. I have something of a loathing for the M1 and avoid it wherever possible. Of all the motorways i have driven all over the UK and Europe it the one where it always feels like a crash is about to happen.

Anyway, I use the A1. From my place in north east London it's up the M11, A14 and bobs your uncle. It's a while since I drove up to Leeds but I had the chance on Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon. What a simply fabulous road it is now! From the Waterworks roundabout on the north circular not a single roundabout or traffic light until I turned off the M62 to my hotel. The pain of the roadworks over recent years now seems a distant memory.

I wasn't rushing so just set the cruise control at 70 and let the car take me there. Easy peasy but it made me think about things a little more deeply. On the way back I did the same. Leaving Leeds at 12:00 got on the M62 and then the A1M. Crusied down to bawtry(?) services to refill and pee and then back on cruise control at 70. It felt like I hadn't braked for a long time on the way up so thought i'd clock it on the way home.

I travelled 58.9 miles from those services without touching the brakes. A couple of foreign trucks passing each other put a stop to it, but after that it was another 20 miles or so again. The only exceptions were the 50mph section somewhere near Sheffield and a gentle squeeze on the loud pedal to pass something to avoid something coming up very fast having to brake.

At no time did I have to carry out a late swoop out to avoid the back of a truck and by employing good lane discipline those choosing to travel quickly were not particularly hampered.

I have driven down the A1 very quickly in the past, and been bothered by traffic and so on, but by chugging along as I was on Wednesday I came to realise that the traffic one encounters when going fast on what was a fairly quiet road is largley of ones own making. Watching the cars coming by I could see how many of them gave no attention to thier closing speed and how many of them didn't read the inside lane ahead of them to predict movement of vehicles from inside to outside. (I have to say most offenders were driving BMW's, but that's a terrible generalisation, lol).

I also noted that Skodas are the worst at joining a motorway (for that's what it is really now)

One might think that driving along at 70 one's attention could wander. It does feel so far within the capabilities of new cars, but I found though that I was concentrating and observing just as much as during a quick drive, but there was less tension and stress.

Jumped out of the Saab chilled and not tired even though the 209 miles had been done top down and what's more, it even recorded 37.8 mpg.

Just made a change really and there will I'm sure be times when I'm not driving like that. I do find that having a soft top, and having something to drive on track, makes me a far more chilled out motorway driver. Or perhaps I've turned into a boring old git.

Blimey, just read that through and it sounds like 'thought for the day'! Sorry about that.:-) I shall recompense by spinning the wheels on the way home this evening.

[dcb]

silverthorn2151 said:

I wasn't rushing so just set the cruise control at 70 and let the car take me there.

...

Or perhaps I've turned into a boring old git.

It looks that way to me. At that speed, you are going
to have most cars passing you.

Personally, I gave up on the A1 years ago - I find it has
too many slow drivers who have lousy lane discipline.

Hat wearing drivers who think its ok to do 60 mph
in lane 2 for thirty miles or so, when lane 1 is empty,
have ensured I take the M1 every time.

At least on the M1, there is a third lane to ensure
that faster traffic can pass. On the A1, it is two
lanes only and so it only takes one slow driver to block
the road for every one else.

[silverthorn2151]

dcb said:

silverthorn2151 said:

I wasn't rushing so just set the cruise control at 70 and let the car take me there.

...

Or perhaps I've turned into a boring old git.

It looks that way to me. At that speed, you are going
to have most cars passing you.

Personally, I gave up on the A1 years ago - I find it has
too many slow drivers who have lousy lane discipline.

Hat wearing drivers who think its ok to do 60 mph
in lane 2 for thirty miles or so, when lane 1 is empty,
have ensured I take the M1 every time.

At least on the M1, there is a third lane to ensure
that faster traffic can pass. On the A1, it is two
lanes only and so it only takes one slow driver to block
the road for every one else.

I think you are missing the point of my post.

I have had just that experience of many many roads, including the A1. It does depend to a large degree on traffic conditions of course. With an empty inside lane, for 30 miles though....don't think so. The previous time I came down it from Cumbria it was a very fast run but nevertheless I generally found lane discipline was ok. The point is that in travelling very fast you close on traffic regularly. Not everyone is an attentive PH'er and the fact that a Beemer is closing on them from 100mph plus is either lost on them or thier brains don't work that way. I'm sure there are plenty who think "i'm doing 70...therefore that bloke behind has no right to pass". You'll always find those and in my view one has to accept those as an occupational hazard if you are a fast cruiser.

You suggest that the M1 has an advantage in being 3 lanes. Sure, inside full of trucks and caravans, middle full of people who have no lane discipline and the outside lane a convoy of a'holes 10 feet from each others bumper thinking that thier time is more important that the other guy.

I dream of driving UK motorways with people observing french lane discipline, but that ain't ever going to happen.

Speed differentials are always important. Witness the changes on the A14 from the top of the M11 to the A1. previously this was a nightmare with snaking conjestion caused by the location of traffic cameras and the inevitable slowing that goes on. Now they have changed to average speed cameras for a lot of miles it tends to run more smoothly.

I'm not an advocate for speed cameras, or for lowering speed limits. On the contrary in fact. it was however most illuminating watching people hammering down the outside lane and leaping on the brakes. As I said, the majority of offenders seemed to be in BMW's.......couldn't help noticing what you drive.......lol. And I've been there, and done that, and will do it again.

Oh, and my personal record is higher than 154, but I'm not going to tell you when or where.

A1 for me......every time. Bloody long way round for Heathrow though!

[r129sl]

The A1 is a far more enjoyable drive whether pressing on or cruising gently. I have done both, too, as the mood takes me. It isn't called the Great North Road for nothing. I think the best thing about the A1 is that it goes through (or by-passes these days) so many of the fine old towns of England, whereas the M1 just ploughs a swathe through the countryside without even doffing its cap to history. There are many good places to take a break but the two that suit me are the Black Bull at Moulton (near Scotch Corner) and the George of Stamford. On a run to the continent, I will often take a light fish lunch or supper with a glass of white Burgundy at the George. Nothing finer to get you in the spirit of the journey.

[Chris71]

I drive that road regularly and also adopt a cruise control approach. I tend to cover it at night though, so the cruise control is set somewhat higher with one eye firmly open for any conspicuously plain BMWs or Octavia vRS I may be about to overtake.