No, really!
Published on July 19, 2006 By anothermaso In Life Journals
I'm here to tell the government - those TV ads telling motorists there's no such thing as safe speeding just aren't working. And while I haven't been side-swiped by a speeder just yet (large amounts of touch wood here) I'm almost certain it's just a matter of time.

What really cheeses me off is how many people just take it for granted. In a conversation at work recently, one of the guys said "Oh, everybody speeds". When I piped up that I didn't - and how irritating I found all the people who do - I was viewed as some kind of dotty old aunt who only drives her car on Sundays. Which I'm not, I enjoy driving at speed - when the conditions are favourable - and use my car to commute every day.

So who do I find the most annoying? Tradesmen. In those damn V6 or V8 utes (that's pickups for my American readers) with the chrome and the 4WD who insist on crossing three lanes of the highway to make an exit in about 20 metres instead of moving over from the fast lane gradually like normal people do. Speeding just about everywhere - especially in school zones when they're getting off work and heading home or to the pub. I'm also a shift-worker who occasionally starts at 6 or 7 am and get them on the way in to work as well, when they think that because there's little traffic they're entitled to zip past me doing 90-ks in a 60 zone. Everyone moans about taxis and SUVs and those little white delivery vans (and I agree) but no-one's singled out tradesmen for a blast.

I also find truck-drivers can be dangerous - not on the highways where they're very well behaved, but on the major arterials. It's not their fault, I know. It takes ages to get up to speed and it's easier to speed a bit downhill to keep the momentum going uphill, but it's bloody scary to see one looming in the rear-vision when you're wondering if they can even see you way down on the tarmac.

And finally - Subaru drivers. Any sort, not just the damn WRXers. They're all lead-foots (lead-feet?) who seem to regard driving mirrors as optional extras and delight in squeezing into the space I leave between myself and the next car in order to avoid running up its backside in an emergency.

I've often said the government wouldn't have to worry about balancing its budget if there were "driving rules" officers, the same as parking officers. Just driving in small (preferably fuel-efficient or hybrid) cars around the main roads with small cameras attached to their front, rear and both sides. The amount of revenue from drivers who don't use their indicators alone would pay for the refurbishment of many Ministers' offices! I know that sounds awfully Big Brother, but with cameras on police cars (and the technology for this getting cheaper by the minute) surely it'd be easy to do.

But then again the government's got a bit to answer for with its seemingly inconsistent speed limits. On my trip to work, they change 25 times - if I'm not travelling in school zone hours - during my trip of around 50 minutes. And no-one but me (and that includes the buses) travels at 60-k's over Sydney's Anzac Bridge.

So, the next time you're in a hurry to get somewhere and there's some woman in a car that seems to be just crawling along infuriatingly in front of you - why not check your speed - and the speed limit - before tailgating her, beeping your horn, and taking risks in order to get past her? The statistics say - speed kills - and I don't intend being one of those statistics.

Comments
on Jul 19, 2006
I try not to speed as well. The one thing that really intrigues me about speeders is they 'think' they are getting somewhere faster by lane hopping. I remember this one co-worker who had quite the distinguishable MR-2 and I would see him hopping back and forth in different lanes like a pinball. The thing is he started behind me and we still wound up pulling into the parkinglot at the same time. He was stressed about traffic and I was cool.

Ah here's another story that you might relate too. There is this lady where I work who refers herself to 'QueenBee.' One morning I was tired and had alot on my mind. I guess she was right behind me on my way to work. Later that day I over heard her talking about me about how I was speeding, and ran a stop sign (I may have slightly rolled through it) on the way to work. As I don't recall whether I did that or not I do recall the fact that she pulled into the parking lot right behind me. Which if I totally blew through the stop sign on my way to work that meant so did she. I confessed I had alot on my mind (not justifying) and wasn't overly paying attention. But what gets me is that she KNOWINGLY sped and ran the stop sign and yet I was the bad person?

Since that day I have been paying much more attention. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing. Take care mate.
on Jul 19, 2006
I'm guilty. I'm a speeder. And it doesn't look like it's going to stop . . . but I do at least try to give those who don't speed wide berth. I'm not a tail-gater . . . (at least not too bad. )

And finally - Subaru drivers. Any sort, not just the damn WRXers. They're all lead-foots (lead-feet?) who seem to regard driving mirrors as optional extras and delight in squeezing into the space I leave between myself and the next car in order to avoid running up its backside in an emergency.


That's funny. In my experience, with the exception of those "damn WRXers", Subaru drivers here in the States are the SLOWEST drivers on the road! How weird. When I lived in Santa Fe, half of the town drove Subarus, and the other half drove Saabs and Volvos. And THE WHOLE TOWN drove five to ten miles under the speed limit. Oh well, that was a s l o w place to drive.
on Jul 19, 2006
My Wife is like you.  And if your co-workers had of called her old, they would be picking themsevles up off the floor.
on Jul 19, 2006
I speed. On some of the roads around here the speed limit is ridiculous imo. We have deserted roads in which there are no houses or anything for that matter and the speedlimit is 25. Pfft. I don't drive 25 on them.

Of course I realize my opinion is not the law and should I be caught..am willing to pay my debt to society.
on Jul 19, 2006
Of course I realize my opinion is not the law and should I be caught..am willing to pay my debt to society.


Just don't forget to show up and plead not guilty and ask the guy for his radar gun print out (if he's even there) . . . then you're willing to "pay your debt" while not really paying it, nine times out of ten.
on Jul 19, 2006
Of course I realize my opinion is not the law and should I be caught..am willing to pay my debt to society.


I thought I saw your picture in the post office.
on Jul 19, 2006
Speeding on the highway is par with the course and that is why there are 3-5 lanes.

What I will not do is speed on local roads where kids could pop out.
I'll do 40 in a 35, tops, and shake my head at the fuckers behind me lined up in their fucking suvs, landrovers, trucks and other misc behemoths pissing and moaning that they can not do 50.

They just don't care.
on Jul 20, 2006
Lurk, lurk, lurk... Here is some more points for you honey...
on Jul 21, 2006

Lurk, lurk, lurk...

Never took you for a lurker.

on Jul 21, 2006
Lurk, lurk, lurk... Here is some more points for you honey...


I'll bet flattery will get you everywhere...

No, I used to speed but now I have a Ford Ranger with a trillion miles on it (but it's PAID FOR!) and I'm lucky if I can just get the damn thing to start.
on Jul 21, 2006
The best cure for a speeder is to not let him/her drive for awhile.

I stopped driving (not because I had to, but because my car died and I wasn't insured to drive anyone else's vehicle regularly) and after about a year and a half, I find it hard to let 'er rip like I used to.

Although, I wonder if it's a 'talent' that just comes back after awhile...
on Jul 22, 2006
Thanks for the comments, people!
The best cure for a speeder is to not let him/her drive for awhile.


I actually hadn't thought about this - but yes I used to be faster on the roads till I had to take a 6 month break for reasons I won't go into here *blush*.
But chiefly I think its because this car I'm driving has a voodoo jinx on it or something. It's been broken into, rammed, broken down etc etc more than any other car I've ever had. (but shhh - don't tell her - I'm trying to be nice to her before she gets sold)

on Jul 25, 2006
I don't speed either, so don't feel too bad. And good for you that you don't. I abhor those drivers who do it when it's totally unecessary. Especially when they're in a brand new truck or SUV they tend to even want to go on the sidewalk when they can't wait for the traffic to move. Imbeciles!
on Jul 25, 2006
My take on speeding, is that I do it when it's safe but then only when I have to. But in crowded traffic, even if I'm running late for an appt, I figure it's my own fault for running late, and I'm not going to make everyone else pay for my tardiness by driving like a lunatic. Nope, speed limits are there for a reason. I'll learn my lesson and leave the house earlier.

Oh but one more thing, aren't a lot of speed limits arbitrary? I mean, why are all limits made in 5-unit increments? Isn't 38 mph OK, rather than a measley 35? etc. etc...
on Nov 23, 2006
I'm definately forwarding this article to my older brother who has been; forced by the law to take a defensive driving course that costs $150 oh; and speed definately kills; the pocket especially.