Freed from the need for speed

About this speed limit thing: it's not really just a suggestion, or a rule for "those" people who aren't well-trained athletic drivers with panther-like reflexes and almost eerie ability to predict the movement of other vehicles ... like us! Nope, it's actually a law.

More than a year ago (perhaps more than two years ago), a man I like quite well stated publicly that he drove the speed limit. Because it was the law. I resisted the urge to sneer, snort with derision and point my finger at him, but just barely. Because at that time, if the speed limit was 30, I drove 35; if it was 40, I drove 46; if it was 50, I cruised at 57; if 60 was posted, I was making 68 out of the gate; if 70 was the limit, as near to 80 as I could get was where I set my cruise control. Who knows what I would have done if there was no limit!

One day I started thinking about it.

This was precision scofflaw; well premeditated violation; I always did this. Always. Only 3 possibilities occurred to me:

• I was really in a hurry (totally contrary to the rest of my life);
• It was a sort of childish rebellion (ha hah! I'm being baaaaaaaad!!!); or
• It was a much darker contempt for authority: suitable for you sheep, but not me, the Most Important Person on the Highway Today!

You can imagine how this made me feel (well, perhaps not). I'm a lifelong believer in Law: we are a nation of laws, we rely on the Rule of Law to keep our wilder impulses in check. And here I was, flouting it all.

I drive the speed limit now (well, most of the time; I try not to obstruct traffic!). I'm not above the law. I'm not a better driver than everyone else. I'm not more important. More importantly, I want to live in a country where law rules, not personal preference; where the rules are for everyone, not just people who want to follow them.

I won't say, Don't speed. Only you can decide whether to obey the law, or treat it with contempt. But at least think about the implications.