Speeding

I am cruising down the interstate at 70 mph with the cruise control doing the work for me. I’m listening to the radio while watching traffic and waiting for the sun to rise in the east.

The car is running smooth, the road is clear, and life is good. Then it happens.

Someone blows past me at least 20, 25 mph over the limit.

This is something I do not understand. Speeding 20 mph over the speed limit on a 10 mile trip, in which they can speed only 5 or 7 miles results in a time savings of only one and a half minutes to just a little over two. Literally, it only saves one or two minutes.

And what do you get for saving a couple of minutes? You run the risk of the police ticketing you, with the associated costs involved. There is the price of the fine, possible processing fees, court costs if you stand before a judge, and an increase in your car insurance.

Put all that together and the total could be as high as $1500.  To save two minutes. Uhm… $1500 divided by 2 equals $750… Carry that out to $750 times 60 minutes…, Wow! A $45,000 per hour risk!

That’s the monetary side of the risk; now let’s talk about the important stuff – the risk of human lives.

When operating well above the speed limit, there is a real probability you might hurt someone. You might even kill an innocent person. In such a case, standby, because the courts and society will probably not look kindly on the choices you made which left someone dead or permanently disabled.

If you end up in court charged with vehicular homicide, more than likely you will end up in jail. It will be a horrible situation for you, but you’ll get out it jail one day.

I have never heard of anyone coming home from the cemetery. The family and friends of your victim will pay a far greater price than you – for your misdeeds.

This is a heavy-duty post. I would say most do not need to hear or see the words I have posted today. At the same time, there are others who dearly need to pay attention to this message.

Before they hurt or kill someone.

-30-

© 2010 J. Clark

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2 Responses to Speeding

  1. flyinggma says:

    We went through the speeding thing with our second son when he was a freshman in college. Three speeding tickets in one calendar year lands you in front of a judge in Minnesota as we found out the hard way. Fortunately he didn’t have an accident while speeding and hurt anyone. He now drives like a Grandpa on a Sunday afternoon drive and he’s only 24. Great reminder to all to slow down!

    • Joe Clark says:

      I’m glad your son matured. Most of us do; I remember being about his age and owning a Spitfire convertible. The top was always down and the throttle had two positions – wide open and closed. As I matured, I saw what effects highway accidents could have on families and I changed, too. I have to remind some of my students that I really love going fast and I miss the days of flying low-level missions – 620 mph a mere 150 feet off the ground (now that’s what I call speeding!). I was in control on those missions, but on the highways, there are too many factors you have no control over that can get you.

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