American Driving Behavior: A Brief Reflection Regarding Humility

[newagelink]

I'm reading Of the Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis, and read the following statement (Book 1 Chapter VII): The humble enjoy continued peace, but in the heart of the proud is envy, and frequent indignation.

I was reminded of my practice of obeying speed limit signs. Most decide "to go five over", e.g. 35 mi/hr speed limit, they drive 40 mi/hr

Comments

[ropemaker]

you should be careful using cruise control in heavy traffic.

Some speedometers are set to read speed incorrectly. So when your speedometer says "35" your car might be going "30". Mine does that so I know when i'm going "speed limit" I'm actually 5 under which is fine because if the police's radar is off, I'm still in the clear. You may want to check your speedometer to see if yours is reporting accurately because you could actually be going way under the speed limit-- which is why cars appear to be speeding past you.

Good thinking!

[newagelink]

Yes, I've recently checked the speedometer calibration with some police speed demonstrators (you know those things they sometimes put up by the side of the road?), and, assuming it hasn't changed in a few months, it's spot-on. So my 35 really is 35, which perhaps explains why most others go slower than 35 when I'm driving through those camera areas: Perhaps their speedometers say 35 when they're going 30 ... But actually, in that case they'd actually be going my speed when going "5 over", which means they would be going more than five over, if that were the case ...

(Sorry for the distracted writing; TV blaring in my ear ...)

I turn off the speed control when "active braking" becomes necessary -- that is, when it may be necessary to brake suddenly, as in heavy traffic or when someone is a few car lengths in front of me.