Breaking The Law?

This week I’ve been conducting an experiment, it’s not according to any of the scientific norms. There are no control groups or surveys. This is simply the observations of one man me. The experiment is very simple in scope and will not win any awards for originality.

The experiment was the result of a very innocent question posed by my 17 year old daughter, who is now learning to drive. It has been a great experience for me to spend time with her as she achieves this milestone in a young person’s life.
She has made it her duty to not only read but take to heart the regulations set forth in the driver’s manual.

A few weeks ago while we were driving on the expressway she asked “daddy isn’t the speed limit 55 miles an hour.” I told her yes it is then she replied “then why are you doing almost 70 miles an hour?” My response was “because everyone else is going 70 miles an hour.” Then she looked at me and said, “So everybody is breaking the law.”

I had no viable response, what could I say. She was right, we all were breaking the law. The says we are suppose to travel 55 miles an hour but no one travels on the highway at the speed limit. Why do you do this on regular basis, without thinking about the fact that we are breaking the law?

So this week I decided to do something radical, I traveled the speed limit. This was an eye opening experience. While travelling the speed limit I was the enemy of everyone I encountered. There were several drivers who gave me the international greeting know as the “bird.” I encountered one woman who let her window down and questioned whether my parents were married.

I also had several gentlemen who wanted to it seemed resurrect the age old custom of a duel, right there on the highway. In short by following the law I became public enemy number one. I can look at my daughter and try to stand up as a person of morals and law abiding when daily I am breaking the law every time I get in my vehicle, I break the law.

But I am defiantly not alone as my experiment, although not scientific showed. We watch the news every night and look at those persons who in court with disgust. But the fact is breaking the law is breaking the law, we are such Hippocrates. We choose to obey the laws that we feel are important, but the others we ignore because they are an imposition on are time.

I know this little experiment of mine won’t change any driving habits, but maybe, just maybe the next time you get behind the wheel that little voice we call our conscience will whisper, YOU ARE BREAKING THE LAW!!!