Thoughts on Speeding

THOTH · 19-02-2005, 14:22

Jack took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down: 73 in a 55 zone. Fourth time in as many months. How could a guy get caught so often?
>
> When his car had slowed to 10 miles an hour, Jack pulled over, but only partially. Let the cop worry about the potential traffic hazard. Maybe
> some other car will tweak his backside with a mirror. The cop was stepping out of his car, the big pad in hand.
>
> Bob? Bob from Church? Jack sunk farther into his trench coat. This was worse than the coming ticket. A cop catching a guy from his own church.
> A guy who happened to be a little eager to get home after a long day at the office. A guy he was about to play golf with tomorrow.
> Jumping out of the car, he approached a man he saw every Sunday, a man he'd never seen in uniform.
>
> "Hi, Bob. Fancy meeting you like this."
>
> "Hello, Jack." No smile.
>
> "Guess you caught me red-handed in a rush to see my wife and kids."
> "Yeah, I guess." Bob seemed uncertain. Good.
> "I've seen some long days at the office lately. I'm afraid I bent the rules a bit -just this once."
> Jack toed at a pebble on the pavement, "Diane said something about roast beef and potatoes tonight. Know what I mean?"
> "I know what you mean. I also know that you have a reputation in our precinct ." Ouch. This was not going in the right direction. Time to change tactics.
>
> "What'd you clock me at?"
>
> "Seventy. Would you sit back in your car please?"
>
> "Now wait a minute here, Bob. I checked as soon as saw you. I was barely nudging 65" The lie seemed to come easier with every ticket.
>
> "Please, Jack, in the car."
>
> Flustered, Jack hunched himself through the still-open door. Slamming it shut, he stared at the dashboard. He was in no rush to open the window.
> The minutes ticked by. Bob scribbled away on the pad. Why hadn't he asked for a driver's license?
> Whatever the reason, it would be a month of Sundays before Jack ever sat near this cop again. A tap on the door jerked his head to the left.
> There was Bob, a folded paper in hand Jack rolled down the window a mere two inches, just enough room for Bob to pass him the slip.
> "Thanks." Jack could not quite keep the sneer out of his voice.
> Bob returned to his police car without a word. Jack watched his retreat in the mirror. Jack unfolded the sheet of paper. How much was this one going to cost?
> Wait a minute. What was this? Some kind of joke? Certainly not a ticket.
>
> Jack began to read:
>
>
> "Dear Jack, Once upon a time I had a daughter. She was six when killed by a car. You guessed it- a speeding driver. A fine and three months in
> jail, and the man was free. Free to hug his daughters, all three of them. I only had one, and I'm going to have to wait until Heaven before I can ever hug her again.
> A thousand times I've tried to forgive that man. A thousand times I thought I had. Maybe I did, but I need to do it again. Even now. Pray for me.
>
> And be careful, Jack, my son is all I have left."
> "Bob"
>
> Jack turned around in time to see Bob's car pull away and head down the road. Jack watched until it disappeared. A full 15 minutes later, he
> too, pulled away and drove slowly home, praying for forgiveness and hugging a surprised wife and kids when he arrived.
>
> Life is precious. Handle with care. This is an important message; please pass it along to your friends. Drive safely and carefully.
> Remember, cars are not the only things recalled by their maker. Funny how you can send a thousand jokes through e-mail and they spread
> like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the sanctity of life, people think twice about sharing.
> Funny how when you go to forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or
> what they will think of you for sending it to them.
>
> Pass this on, you may save a life. Maybe not, but we'll never know if we don't try.

slinky · 19-02-2005, 16:04

wow good stuff!! certainly makes you think.....not that I speed because i'm not a driver, but if more people just took time to slow down abit there would'nt be as many grieving parents and family around as there are. thanks for putting this on the forum, hope people read and remember next time they are in a hurry to get somewhere.

chav1 · 19-02-2005, 20:56

thats like a thought for the day type thing

good and although probably not true it makes you think

on the note of speeding i dont know why cars on sale in the uk are made to go over 120mph when our speed limits are much much slower yo would think they would restrict them like they do with coaches

Sara · 19-02-2005, 21:10

Thought provoking THOTH. I drive but can honestly say i have never speeded and hopefully never will.

WillowTheWhisp · 19-02-2005, 21:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by chav1

on the note of speeding i dont know why cars on sale in the uk are made to go over 120mph when our speed limits are much much slower

I've often wondered that myself, and why one of the selling points of a car is its top speed.

Doug · 19-02-2005, 22:41

To my shame I have got to admit I have done all to often. I had a close call last year and that made me think.

Busman747 · 19-02-2005, 22:52

Well posted thoth, a timely reminder to those idiots that think they are the worlds best drivers......until they kill someone Even on the Accyweb, there are those that boast of exceeding the speed limits around Accy. Maybe they don't have children to lose......or are just stupid

Busman747 · 19-02-2005, 23:15

Hope you do not mind too much THOTH, I have changed your story just a tad.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by THOTH

White van man took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down: 73 in a 55 zone. Fourth time in as many months. How could a guy get caught so often?
>
> When his car had slowed to 10 miles an hour, Jack pulled over, but only partially. Let the cop worry about the potential traffic hazard. Maybe
> some other car will tweak his backside with a mirror. The cop was stepping out of his car, the big pad in hand.
>
> Bob? Bob from his local drinking club? Jack sunk farther into his trench coat. This was worse than the coming ticket. A cop catching a guy from his own club.
> A guy who happened to be a little eager to get home after a long day in his van. A guy he was about to do business with tomorrow selling a three piece suite.
> Jumping out of the car, he approached a man he saw every day, a man he'd never seen in uniform.
>
> "Hi, Bob. Fancy meeting you like this."
>
> "Hello, Jack." No smile.
>
> "Guess you caught me red-handed in a rush to see my wife and dog."
> "Yeah, I guess." Bob seemed uncertain. Good.
> "I've seen some long days at the club lately. I'm afraid I bent the rules a bit -just this once or twice."
> Jack toed at a pebble on the pavement, "Diane said something about roast beef and potatoes tonight. Know what I mean?"
> "I know what you mean. I also know that you have a reputation in our precinct ." Ouch. This was not going in the right direction. Time to change tactics.
>
> "What'd you clock me at?"
>
> "Seventy. Would you sit back in your car please?"
>
> "Now wait a minute here, Bob. I checked as soon as saw you. I was barely nudging 65" The lie seemed to come easier with every ticket.
>
> "Please, Jack, in the car."
>
> Flustered, Jack hunched himself through the still-open door. Slamming it shut, he stared at the dashboard. He was in no rush to open the window.
> The minutes ticked by. Bob scribbled away on the pad. Why hadn't he asked for a driver's license?
> Whatever the reason, it would be a month of Sundays before Jack ever sat near this cop again. A tap on the door jerked his head to the left.
> There was Bob, a folded paper in hand Jack rolled down the window a mere two inches, just enough room for Bob to pass him the slip.
> "Thanks." Jack could not quite keep the sneer out of his voice.
> Bob returned to his police car without a word. Jack watched his retreat in the mirror. Jack unfolded the sheet of paper. How much was this one going to cost?
> Wait a minute. What was this? Some kind of joke? Certainly not a ticket.
>
> Jack began to read:
>
>
> "Dear Jack, Once upon a time I had a daughter. She was six when killed by a car. You guessed it- a speeding driver. A fine and three months in
> jail, and the man was free. Free to hug his daughters, all three of them. I only had one, and I'm going to have to wait until Heaven before I can ever hug her again.
> A thousand times I've tried to forgive that man. A thousand times I thought I had. Maybe I did, but I need to do it again. Even now. Pray for me.
>
> And be careful, Jack, my son is all I have left."
> "Bob"
>
> Jack turned around in time to see Bob's car pull away and head down the road. white van man watched until it disappeared. A full 15 seconds later, he
> too, pulled away spinning his wheels in anger!
> Life is precious. Handle with care. This is an important message; please pass it along to your friends. Drive safely and carefully.
.

THOTH · 20-02-2005, 09:17

Don`t mind at all Busman and seeing the vexed question of White Van Loonie Drivers has cropped up before I would just like to add this.

For those who make excuses about the W.V.L.Ds just try this.

Drive along any Motorway at 70mph and note how many W.V.L.Ds pass you and how many stay behind at a sensible distance.

Am well aware it also applies to the majority -- note majority -- of cars but at the moment am just concentrating on the W.V.L.Ds.