You can probably say "Been there, seen that!". You're driving along on the hi-way, listening to your radio, and watching the other drivers as they go past you. There is a sweet looking grandmother type. Next you see Mr. Businessman, followed by a truck driven by someone in construction. Then an SUV with an obviously patient and loving mother, who is probably a soccer mom chauffeuring her beloved children to their next after school activity. Finally, a police officer, a man of the law, who is followed by many others. What do all these diverse people have in common? Well, for starters, they are all passing you. The reason for that, and the guy behind you who is honking his horn, is that you are driving the speed limit. All of those other, seemingly law abiding people, are driving at least ten miles an hour over the posted speed limit!
The guy behind you finally manages to force his way out into the passing lane and as he passes you he gives you a nasty look, or worse, and speeds on his way. What comes over these people when they get behind the wheel of a car?
Normal citizens would never dream of obtaining their soda at the nearby convenience store at gunpoint or driving off without paying for their fast food. They would be horrified at the thought of taking something without paying for it...because it is against the law. Yet, once they get in their vehicles, for many assorted reasons, the law no longer applies to them. The law that is posted every so often along the Hi-way showing the speed limit does not apply. Yet we don't have to post signs at the convenience store saying "Do Not Rob" in order to get people to pay for their merchandise.
Perhaps it has something to do with the vehicle. Is it our own little world where we make the laws? After all, they do have to post signs at the gas station that drive offs will be prosecuted.
We are always in a hurry. Why? Many times we are actually ahead of our schedule and yet we speed. We see other people getting away with it and somehow that makes it all right. After all, how many can the cops pull over at one time? Is that really a good way to look at it? We can break the law because we see everyone else breaking it? What is it we tell our kids when they argue that every one else is doing it? Don't we tell them something about what if everyone else was jumping off a cliff? What kind of example are we setting for our children when they watch us break the law every time we get behind the wheel?
Law enforcement will tell you that "Speed Kills!". We can argue with many officers that speed doesn't actually kill, making a mistake kills. They agree, perhaps speed itself does not kill, but if you make that unforeseen mistake and you are speeding, the probability of someone dying is raised proportionately. Living with the fact that you killed someone, even unintentionally, is hard to do. Besides, you may be living with that thought from inside a jail cell. Manslaughter! And what if that person were a member of your own family? It can happen!
Do you really want to take that chance just to be like everyone else, or because you can get away with it, or because you are going to be a few minutes late getting somewhere? Or are you a law abiding citizen who just forgot for a while what is important in life? A person who will read this and slow down, just because it is the right thing to do and the right way to live.
