From: steve@neopath.wa.com (Steve Faull)
Subject: Re: Why CAN'T people drive 55?!
Organization: NeoPath
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1992 05:15:43 GMT

In article <3040@uswnvg.uswnvg.com> hcorbin@uswnvg.com (Harold Corbin) writes:
>Why is it that people are always giving me dirty looks when they pass me on the 
>highway and I'm driving 60 in a 55 MPH zone?  I get irritated and angry EVERY   TIME some jerk tailgates me and flashes his/her brights fo rme to move over justbecause I don't have a TOTAL DISRESPECT for the LAW and I don't want to drive
>75 just to get the hell out of their way!

It seems to me that you are not respecting the law if you're driving 60 in a 55 zone.  So does
this make you better than the guy driving 75 in terms of respecting the law?
I think you really need to relax.  If you're driving the speed limit and someone is
tailgating you and/or flashing their lights just move to another lane.  If there's no
other lane to move to then just keep driving and ignore the person best you can.  If you
do move to another lane and the person races by you do not make eye contact with them. Just
ingore them.  You will only give them the satisfaction of letting them know that you're 
pissed off.  Don't flip them the bird or anything else to fuel a possible fire.  You could
get your car rammed, followed by some psycho, or even shot (and it does happen)!

>The scariest thing is.... NOBODY cares!  Sure, it's a piddly thing.... who caresabout the speed limit, there are more important things to focus energy on.
>Nobody thinks it's dangerous to drive 70 in a 55, so why shouldn't we???
>
>Question:  Are we ALL experts in determining the safe speed limitations requiredon the roads we drive?  Does passing the Drivers Ed class and getting a license
>guarantee instant expertise on road conditions and speed/velocity/gravity 
>equations?  I think NOT!  The speed limits are LIMITS for a reason!
>
>Does everyone think that the DOT knows nothing and that the drivers on the raod
>should be able to drive as fast as THEY want to?  Sometimes I think that the
>grandpa in front of me driving his FORD Fairlane and myself are the only ones
>on the road with any respect for the law and the police that enforce such limitson society.
>
>Maybe the speeders of the world all think it's OK to help themselves to a few 
>free penny candies at 7-Eleven whenver they want?  After all, what's the BIG
>DEAL???  Unless you get caught, nobody really cares.  
>
>What does this trend towards disrespect mean for the future?  If we don't obey 
>the law, what will our children think?  Are the rules really rules, or are they
>subject to your own discretion?  What kind of message is this to the future
>youth of America?

Again, you REALLY need to relax!  Talk a nice long walk or something like that.

>
>The fabric of our society is dwindling.  It is commonly accepted to break the
>law.  What's next?

If you think the fabric of our society is dwindling because SOME people are exceeding
the speed limits you've been living in a box!

>Let me guess....... about 20 responses to this posting all flaming me for being
>a tightwad.  "Loosen up, there are more important things to worry about."
>
>I'm probably the BAD GUY, since I still remember how to follow the rules.  Well
>EXCUSE ME for respecting the speed limit, and FLAME AWAY!  I'm waiting....

I wouldn't call you a bad guy.  I'd call you a guy that got up on the wrong side
of the bed this morning and needs to kick back, relax, and get a grip on life.

-Steve



-- 


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ Steve Faull		steve@neopath.wa.com     ~
Newsgroups: seattle.general