The Problem With Driving Too Quickly

I've noticed that you can tell alot about a person by the way that he/she drives. Driving is about freedom and control and people exhibit some of their most subtle character traits while driving. At times, they exhibit their most obvious. Take me for example, I got my very first car in 2006. I drove it off the lot with a learner's permit. I followed my dad back to my house because that was the only way I was going to get the car home. I remember being nervous but not necessarily scared...or as scared. I made it home in one piece and was happy to have a new form of freedom and control. I soon learned about myself that I drive very fast. Others saw that in me too. People warned me to slow down before I got into an accident...or worse. I heard them but I didn't take heed. I needed to get where I was going and didn't appreciate people being in my way while I was trying to get there. I drove quickly and aggressively. I was at times oblivious to what was going on around me outside of the cars that were immediately in front, behind, to the left, and to the right of me. When I rode with people, I watched how they drove. I watched how quickly or how slowly they drove. I watched whether or not they used their turn signals. I noticed whether or not they cared about maintaining or riding above the speed limit. I got irritated with some and admired others. I began to notice the correlation between the way people drove and how they lived their lives. It became somewhat of a fascination with me. I started to pay attention to people who never drove or never wanted to. I started to notice the people who chose not to have a car. I noticed people who always relied on others to get them where they were going. I noticed all of this and it helped me to realize a lot about myself. I've had conversations with people about sucky drivers. I've never had that kind of conversation about how great of a driver someone is though. I've let people borrow my car. I've never gone out of my way to borrow or drive someone's car though. I became the designated driver (on drinking and non-drinking occasions). I've exercised a great deal of freedom and control by driving. I'm still in the process of summing it all up and making sense out of it.

The lesson of the moment: SLOW DOWN. The problem with driving too quickly is that you don't leave room for error...either your own or the error of someone else. The problem with driving too quickly is that you have to brake suddenly. The problem with driving too quickly is that there is no reward for being the first person to walk through the door. The problem with driving too quickly is that you jeopardize your life and safety and the lives and safety of those around you. The problem with driving too quickly is you miss a lot of what you're supposed to see because you're too busy trying to catch the green lights so you can keep on going. The problem with driving too quickly is that if you do it long enough, going at the normal (or legal) speed limit seems much too slow. The problem with driving too quickly is that it is not a guarantee to getting there.

In the scheme of things, I've only had five years of driving too quickly. That's not a long time. But a lot has happened in that time. I used to think that it was cute to drive so quickly. I now see what others see. I can now see the problem with driving too quickly. I now see that it is time to slow down.