You’ve heard the phrase, “going nowhere fast.” What does it mean? Roughly, it means you’re wasting your life and are headed to the gutter. “Whoa! Wait a minute!” you say. “I am NOT headed for the gutter! I’m just trying to get to where I need to go in a timely manner!” Rather than become defensive in return, I look at the situation. I’m driving on the roadway, travelling at a safe speed (somewhere around the speed limit,) and here comes another car, flying up on my bumper.
This brings forth a feeling of annoyance in me, and my first reaction when that happens is to slow down, or tap my brakes. I decide better and just continue at the speed I’ve been moving at all along. You seem to appear irritated by that and inch closer, while honking your horn and flashing your lights. Again, a feeling of annoyance comes over me, still I maintain my speed, or my urge to roll down my window and give you the one-fingered salute. “Stay calm, man” I tell myself. “It’s nothing personal.”
After another mile, you decide that you’ve had enough, and you find room on the left to pass me, doing so at what seems to be twice the speed limit. I don’t even glance over at you while you do this, but I can imagine what’s going on in your car. You’re blabbing away on your cellphone, radio blasting, or maybe a few other things. Your world is moving approximately one million times faster than mine. As a state trooper would say in the old days when he would pull someone over, “Where’s the fire?”
You might be late for work, or that you are angry about something, and don’t even realize how fast and reckless you are driving. That might be the furthest thing from your mind. To be fair, I’ve been guilty of everything I speak of here, mostly in my younger years. The open road, the fast car, the “coolness factor,” etc all come into play. Believe me, I understand it all. These days, however, I find myself not interested in breaking any land speed records, and I wonder why those around me continue to do so.
Up ahead I see the car that was tailgating me turn into a driveway with a big sign for “MIKE’S PARTY.” “A party? All that daredevil driving just to get to a PARTY? Really?” I squelch the urge to yell something out the window as I pass by and see a young lady (probably in her early 20’s) get out of her speeding rocket, which was, in actuality a high-dollar SUV of some sort.
Honestly, it’s none of my business why she was late in the first place. But what is important here is the endangerment of others’ lives. That’s why we have traffic laws and penalties are assessed for breaking them. It’s not about personally attacking our privilege to drive as we wish; it’s about protecting other motorists who share the road with us! I know, try explaining THAT to a 16-year old!
The next time you get in your car and you’re pressed for time, think about it; are you really going to gain any extra time by burying the needle? Perhaps a little time management is in order? In any case, remember this; we’re only alive for a short time. Rushing everywhere does little to enhance the enjoyment of our lives. If you’re in that much of a hurry, I suggest the following: take it to a racetrack.