Written by Jennifer Reiley
Speeding laws in Texas have always confused me. A speed limit is supposed to be the max speed allowed on the road, right? But in Texas, it is common for drivers to drive five miles over the speed limit, thinking they won’t get pulled over. That isn’t always the case though; my cousin got pulled over for going just one mile over the speed limit. Shocking, I know.
But even though it’s fun to push the boundaries and hear the roar of the engine, speed limits are there for a reason. They are great warnings for turns or unstable road conditions. A friend of mine had to learn about the importance of speed limit signs the hard way.
She was out driving with a friend when she came across a flat, empty stretch of dirt road. The thought was just too tempting. She slammed her foot to the accelerator, and they were off, flying down the road. They sped along, just enjoying the feeling of going so fast. After a few more seconds, my friend gave the brake pedal a good tap to help control her speed. The action instead sent the car spinning out of control and smashing into a ditch at forty miles an hour. The speed made the car flip over, so now she was hanging from the ceiling.
Thankfully, both my friend and her passenger were wearing their seat belts and suffered only some minor injuries. But it could have been a lot worse. They could have broken bones, could have been paralyzed, or even died! When you’re in that moment, everything suddenly becomes very real. I’m pretty sure she hasn’t sped since then. Speeding is a serious danger to teen drivers, so forget the five-mile buffer and just go the actual speed limit. No time is saved by going just a bit faster, but a life, your life, could easily be saved by taking it slow.
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