Why Do
People Feel
They Are
Above The Law When
Behind The Wheel?
By Jan Harrison
You can probably say "Been there, seen that!" You’re driving
along on the freeway, listening to your stereo, watching the other drivers
as they go past you. There’s a sweet looking grandmother-type. Next
you see Mr. Businessman, followed by a truck driven by someone in construction.
Then, an SUV with an obviously patient and loving mother, who is probably
a soccer-mom chauffeuring her beloved children to their next after-school
activity. Finally, a law-enforcement officer. What do all these diverse people
have in common?
Well, for starters, they are all passing you.
The reason for that, and the guy behind you who is honking his horn, is that you are driving the speed limit. All of those other seemingly law-abiding people are driving over the posted speed limit!
The guy behind you finally manages to force his way out into the passing lane and as he passes, he gives you a nasty look (or worse) and speeds on his way.
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What comes over these people when they get behind the wheel of a
car?
Normal citizens would never dream of obtaining their soda at the nearby convenience store at gunpoint or driving off without paying for their fast food. They would be horrified at the thought of taking something without paying for it... because it is against the law. But once they get in their vehicles, the law that is posted every so often along the freeway showing the speed limit does not apply.
Is it because we are always in a hurry? Why? Many times we are actually ahead of our schedule and yet we speed. We see other people doing it and somehow that makes it all right. After all, how many cars can the cops pull over at one time? Is that really a good way to look at it? What is it we tell our kids when they argue that “everyone else is doing it”? Don’t we say something about what if everyone else was jumping off a cliff…?
What kind of example are we setting for our children when they watch us break the law every time we get behind the wheel?
Law enforcement will tell you that "Speed Kills!" Perhaps speed itself does not kill, but if you make an unforeseen driving error and you are speeding, the probability of someone dying is raised proportionately. Living with the fact that you killed someone, even unintentionally, is hard to do. You may even end up living with that thought from inside a jail cell. Manslaughter! And what if that person were a member of your own family? It can happen!
Do you really want to take that chance just to be like everyone else, or because you can get away with it, because you are going to be a few minutes late getting somewhere? Or are you a law-abiding citizen who just forgot for a while what’s important in life? Please, slow down – it’s the right thing to do and the right way to live.
© 2008 Good News Tucson™
