Motorist drives wrong way on A23

Police were this week hunting a driver who drove ten miles the wrong way on the A23, one of the busiest roads in West Sussex during Monday evening rush hour.

By The Newsroom

Published 10th Jan 2006, 15:00 BST

Updated 8th Jun 2018, 03:10 BST

More than 30 people called police to report a near-miss, saying a car had driven towards them going south on the northbound carriageway of the road, between Warninglid and Hurstpierpoint. Initial reports suggested the driver had driven the wrong way down a slip road on to the A23 somewhere near Warninglid, continuing past half a dozen slip roads and junctions at around 7.15pm.

Police sent three squad cars from Haywards Heath and Hove, but the driver left the road, believed to be heading for Hassocks.

Motorists said they were so dazzled by the headlights coming towards them that they could not see what kind of car it was.

A police spokesman said: "It's amazing there were no accidents. We deal with accidents all the time on that road.

"To find that this vehicle travelled a reasonable distance in the wrong direction and did not cause any problems is incredible. It could have been very dangerous. It is suprising no-one was killed.