SPEED LIMIT

sorry... no time to proof this
you get what I spat out

in Vancouver

www.vancouversun.com

it is Christmas Vacation... or excuse me
it is Winter Break
the kids are home from school
I am waking up with some coffee while they are waking up to some television
after breakfast we plan on going ice skating with some other kids from their school
but... until I start the momentum
I BLOG

SPEED LIMIT
I would love to see a gathering of adults... judges... lawyers... police officers... teachers... doctors... whatever
get them together and quiz them
quiz these adults that think that the are so smart and so right
ask them some simple questions...

ask them
WHAT DOES SPEED LIMIT MEAN?
then ask them
WHY DO YOU DRIVE THE WAY THAT YOU DO?

when people get in their cars they become robots... ignorant robots that lack the ability to think or reason
outside the car... I assure you... the majority of drivers could answer correctly what SPEED LIMIT means
then... get these people behind the wheel... their driving styles would indicate that they have no concept of the rules slated for the road

SPEED LIMIT
I think that if we break down the two words... define them individually... then combine the definitions we would get a good understanding of what this means
in short... SPEED LIMIT... would that be the same as SPEED MAXIMUM?
or is it fair to say that drivers are allowed to interpret the SPEED LIMIT as a gentle recommendation
a guideline on how to behave if a police officer is present

as if the numbers on the SPEED LIMIT are there for interpretation
a number that acts as a guideline with a plus or minus Standard Deviation
meaning that the drivers should go within a range higher or lower than that stated number

well...
there may be some reasoning behind this logic
it would be unsafe for drivers to set their cars on CRUISE CONTROL and try to have their cars move about at that rate of speed
of course... the cars have to accelerate and decelerate... sometimes exceeding the speed limit and sometimes forced to move at a rate below the speed limit

but what about adding some thought to the action
let there be reasoning... a method to the madness
not car chaos... but thoughtful movement through the streets

if car drivers are to apply this modification of the law to their driving styles they should include a clause...
THE SPEED LIMITS ARE SET TO DICTATE HOW CARS SHOULD DRIVE AROUND OTHER CARS!
when variables such as pedestrians and cyclists come into the situation then the car driver should adapt accordingly
if the speed limit is 25MPH and the car is cruising at 35MPH
well... when they approach a cyclist or pass a street crossing pedestrian they should slow their speed
they should be going below the stated SPEED LIMIT as that LIMIT is set for CAR TO CAR interaction not car to cyclist or car to pedestrian interaction

it is so basic
it is so simple
it is not just logical but also considerate
it would make the roads more safe and more pleasant for everyone

in short this all falls back on the need for DRIVERS TO STOP DRIVING IN AUTO PILOT
but to DRIVE THEIR CARS IN A CONSCIOUS MANNER

to do the RIGHT THING
to drive in a considerate manner
ironically... doing the right thing and slowing for the pedestrian or cyclist does not do much to alter the final arrival point of the car in its point to point pursuit
more than likely... the car would slow to pass the pedestrian or cyclist... then regain speed and catch the bumper of the car that was in front of them

on top of that...
doing the right thing feels good!
driving in a competitive manner only acts to build up tension and aggression
the same goes to car to car behavior
blocking the merging car... refusing to contribute to the alternating merge... or whatever
being obnoxious to obnoxious drivers... only builds up anger and frustration... it makes for a less pleasant trip
the emotion of that trip can carry on and spill over to other interactions of the day

so...
with the New Year approaching comes all sorts of NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS
perhaps people could resolve to be better people by driving better
if a percentage of people were to improve their driving styles it would have a positive ripple effect
if someone became the person who behave courteously and rationally around pedestrians and cyclist... they could imprint on the drivers around them on how to drive
and even if the other drivers do not learn
at least the car has slowed traffic and allowed for a pedestrian to safely cross the street or slowed traffic such that cars pass the moving cyclist more slowly

now...
on with my day

there would be a similar ability to discuss things logically then leave to drive like an asshole if the topic of STOP LINES AND STOP SIGNS was to be discussed