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My Take

Road issues

Mark McGee
Posted 8/13/22

Speeding causes accidents. There was an interstate lighted sign saying something like that a few weeks ago.  

That’s like saying water is wet or a stove is hot. It’s pretty …

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My Take

Road issues

Posted

Speeding causes accidents. There was an interstate lighted sign saying something like that a few weeks ago.  

That’s like saying water is wet or a stove is hot. It’s pretty obvious speed doesn’t just kill. It maims as well.  

It was reported a woman in California was clocked at 100 miles per hour while running through a red light in a 35 miles per hour speed zone. She crashed into five cars, setting three of them on fire. Worse than that she killed six people including an 11-monthold child and his pregnant mother on her way to a prenatal exam. She has been charged with multiple counts of murder and vehicular homicide.  

Unfortunately, she is just an example of what has become routine. Want to drive the speed limit? Don’t expect to do it without someone tailgating you or honking at you for going too slow. I have been stopped for such an infraction twice.  

One of the new interstate lighted signs warns drivers to slow down or pay a ticket. I often wonder just how fast you have to be going to get a ticket between Nashville and Murfreesboro on I-24. The speed limit is 70, but you drive that slow at your own risk.  

I drive a lot, mostly to Nashville from Shelbyville. I used to enjoy driving. It relaxed me. Not anymore.  

I have a checkered record of auto crashes… only one of them my fault. I have been told my insurance company has to keep me on its rolls because I have been with them for so long and I have never had a charge for driving under the influence.  

Twice I have been T-boned at intersections in Nashville. I cringe every time I cross an intersection because I have too often seen drivers speed through a red light without even thinking of slowing down.  

In Green Hills, a speeding car was behind me on always busy Hillsboro Road. I stopped for the red light. The speeding drive had no intention of slowing down, much less stopping. Thanks to God the left lane was clear and allowed room for the driver to move over as it went through the red light.  

I don’t want to be the victim of another driver’s stupidity. When I comes to driving, I can do stupid on my own. I don’t need any help.  

But one road habit really baffles me more than making me mad. Why have so many people decided it is a great idea to drive in the dark without turning on headlights? 

Ironically. It is usually drivers in dark colored vehicles who appear to engage in this silly game the most. 

I am not even going to get into the use of turn signals or mobile phones and all of their distractions.  

Common sense would be a great idea to cover these automotive sins. Take your time. Watch the traffic lights. The life you save may be mine.