Speeding

It's almost winter officially (Saturday or Sunday is the winter solstice depending on what time zone you're in). So I decided today is the time to discuss my philosophy on a sensitive subject: speeding.

To me, there are three types of speeding: accidental speeding, casual speeding, and blatant speeding.

Accidental speeding is when you're accidentally exceeding the posted speed limit probably because it's set too low. My last speeding ticket (years ago) was this. I realized I was going around 50 mph in a 35 mph zone. I had just lifted my foot off the gas to slow down when I saw the cop. Now 50 in a 35 might sound reckless to you, but it's a country road with no houses or farms. There's one intersection before you reach the end and after the intersection nothing but a couple of corners that are fun to take at about 50. In my opinion, the speed limit should be at least 40 or 45. But local jurisdictions around here like to set speed limits low. Probably to increase their fine revenue.

Casual speeding is probably most of the speeding I do. I set the cruise control 5 mph over the speed limit and go. I'm pretty sure I won't get a ticket only going that fast. This is probably, also, the way most people speed: just a bit over the limit. And again, speed limits are often set too low. A sure sign of this is one of those radar signs telling you how fast you're going.

Blatant speeding is when you don't care what the speed limit is you're going to drive as fast as you want. In my opinion, it doesn't become blatant until you're at least 10 mph over the speed limit. I do this occasionally but I pick my spots: empty back roads mostly. Although the first time I went over 100 mph was on an interstate and the speed limit was 55 mph (back in the bad old days of the NMSL*). That was pretty risky.

I've never gotten a ticket blatantly speeding (except my first speeding ticket, doing 70 mph on a 55 mph interstate (stupid NMSL). Knock on wood I never do again. I'm pretty careful these days with where I blatantly speed (never on an interstate).

Oh, and that interstate where I got a ticket for doing 70 mph, now has an 80 mph speed limit.

Do you speed? Is it accidental, casual, or blatant? Let me know in the comments below.

*NMSL: National Maximum Speed Limit that imposed a 55 mph speed limit on the whole nation. It was passed in 1974 in an attempt to conserve oil. In 1987 it was raised to 65 mph on "rural interstates" and in 1995 it was repealed completely.