Why Is Everyone Passing Me?

What’s the rush? The speed limit is 45, and I assume that means for everyone driving a motor vehicle on this highway. Yet, everyone seems to be passing me, and it’s not even ‘rush hour’. I glance down again to check my speedometer; yes it’s right on 45 and there is a posted speed limit sign everyone can see right beside the road. Could there be a one-time sale at the mall? Did I miss some important happening on the local news this morning or maybe in the daily paper? Everyone can’t be just running a little late today, can they? Some of the people are giving me a sour look or even a little hand gesture as they pass, but that's okay, I am obviously the only one observing the posted speed limit at the moment.

It seems that in this fast paced world we live in everything is moving faster, or maybe I'm just getting older or somewhat more cautious of the situation as I mature. Apparently hurry, hurry, hurry is everyone's attitude these days, or if you aren’t going as fast as I am, get out of my way because I have places to go and/or people to see. You would think that certain drivers these days don’t care about observing the posted speed or else they think they can get by with it – or maybe it’s, “I don’t care, I want to risk it” is what they are thinking. Really?

One time I truly notice a difference in driver’s attitude is when they suddenly notice a marked vehicle with numerous antennae stationed on the roof and traveling in the same direction down the road. If the law just happens to be observing the speed limit for a change, the general flow of traffic around them humorously is always found moving at the same speed vigilantly observing the officers as well as their own speed. Even if you sometimes notice a speedster in your rearview mirror steadily moving up by passing other motorist on either side drastically changes their mind and slows down to join the fray once they see ‘the law’ is in this processional. It is really most comical and my wife and I always have a little chuckle as we notice them slap their steering wheel in discontent or otherwise mouthing some obscenity for having to slow their pace a little.

The law doesn’t even seem to worry about the random speeders much anymore I assume feeling the speed cameras will eventually catch them so why even bother. A friend of mine and retired police officer told me that when a police chase ensues it generally places other innocent drivers on the road in danger as well so other means are used to apprehend those violators by alerting a fellow officer down the road. My mind carries me back to when I was just a small lad and hearing my dad reply when some inconsiderate or speedy driver would pass us in a flash. “Someone will be picking his teeth out of a tree or telephone pole up the road somewhere ahead of us…”

© 2012 SamSonS