As the oldest of you approach your driver’s licensing day, any news story about dangerous driving catches Papa’s eye. A local 19 year old speed demon was clocked at 176 miles per hour on the interstate. He was arrested on an off ramp near our gyms. I am at a loss for two reasons. I didn’t know any car could go that fast if it wasn’t on a raceway. (Papa is notoriously slow per a family member.) Secondly, I didn’t know anyone that stupid still existed. I remember the first such person(client). He had a habit of fleeing the police, ditching his car and climbing up an electric tower. It was not his first such rodeo. He enjoyed watching the cops search the field below for him. On his final day no one could say if it was the electric jolt or the fall that killed him.
Don’t speed. At 176 miles per hour a car would travel the length of a football field before a driver could start to react. That local kid is lucky he didn’t kill anyone. And, to have survived his own recklessness. There is a reaon why there are speed limits. It takes time to recognize danger, brake and avoid potential disasters. In the 1950’s some cars had a red ribbon as its speedometer that flowed left to right from 0 up to 120. I recall getting half way up that dial one evening driving a heavy Buick on a county road. The speed shocked me. Those cars rode relatively smooth and I didn’t realize the car was going that fast. I was young. It takes awhile to get the feeling of a car. That is why it is important for you to pay attention when driving. It’ll take some time to feel comfortable behind the wheel. Comfortable means not being nervous. It never means losing focus. And, don’t climb any electric transmission towers for any reason.