You are addicted to speeding...
From SusoSight
| Number: | 108 |
| Date created: | 2004-04-16 01:40:45 |
| Previous Thought: | Highway Emergency Pace Car Patrol |
| Next Thought: | New article email notification feature? |
| Voting results: | I will stop speeding.: 18 |
I discovered something over the past week. I have been addicted to speeding. Like 80% of all other drivers on the road, I have this urge to go 5-10 mph over the limit as if that was the limit. Passing people, snearing at them because they are going the speed limit as if it was so lame to only go 55.
But last weekend I discovered something. You don't need to go fast. What's the point. The time you save is lost always being behind someone and angry. It affects your mood, judgement, ability to control your own life. I've had enough of it. From here on out I'm relaxing, taking it easy. I'll only be losing 5 minutes or so, but I'll probably gain 5 or so years of living.
Now that I'm going the speed limit or less, I see the faces of other people's addiction in my rear view mirror. They are waiting, annoyed, hoping that they can pass so that they can get another hit of this speed thing. The problem is, they will always end up behind someone. Like someone with a drug addiction, the faces are the same, they always need more.
Folks, relax, it's ok. This whole week since I've started to be happier with my life. I come home with a big smile on my face and pick up my wife in the air. She is also happy now. It's an amazing thing, what -5 mph can do.
Still in denial? Read these articles
This table will show you the time used depending on your speed and the distance traveled.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Do you find yourself tailgating people all the time?
- Do you find yourself thinking you can push people to go faster?
- Do you ever say "Come on" or "let's go" to other drivers on the road?
- Do you feel comfortable driving 5 or 10 over the speed limit because everyone else is doing so?
- Do you think that driving 5 or 10 mph/kph over the limit is going to get you where you are going twice as fast?
If you answered yes to any of these, then you have a problem with speeding. And chances are, it's affecting your emotions, nerves and lifestyle as well. I know, because it affected mine.
In reality, in a 55 mph zone, going 60 doesn't get you anywhere much faster. On a 30 mile trip, going 60 will only gain you 2 minutes over going 55. 2 minutes. It's not really that important. Going 65 will only save you 5 minutes. And that's only if you maintain 65 for the whole 30 miles, which is unlikely. You're probably only averaging 60 due to traffic. Somewhere in those 30 miles, you're likely to attract the attention of a cop, who will pull you over and take up 20 minutes of your time. And to save 20 minutes, you'd have to go over 130 miles per hour. Which is nearly impossible to maintain on a public road. And will land you in jail. So again, what's the point?
Here is a simple exercise to help you kick this addiction.
- Drive exactly the speed limit or try to. It's actually kinda hard to do.
- Depending on where you drive, people will most likely crowd up behind you, pass or try to pass.
- Watch the expression on people's faces as they get behind you or pass you. You will notice that they exibit a simular expression and behavior of someone who is strongly addicted to drugs. They NEED it.
- Relax and enjoy not having to be behind anyone, because everyone is most likely breaking the law.
- Contemplate how silly this is.
As more people try this, it will set more and more of an example. After all, the number 1 reason why so many people are speeding today is because everyone else is doing it. I used to think that it was important to stay out of other people's way because they are just like you. But I realized that they have a problem.
External links
- http://www.editgrid.com/user/suso/Speed_vs._Time_Saved_Chart - Spreadsheet I made for this thought, converted to editgrid.com