Speeding Kills Bears

The other day I was with a friend on our way to look for a car for me to drive now that I have my license back again. As I looked around I noticed how fast the people around us were going. I imagined myself as the passenger of one of those cars and how I would feel about how fast my driver was going. My heart raced just thinking about it, and not in an exciting way, but in a frightening way. As I imagined this happening, I decided to think of how fast is fast to me in terms of miles per hour. The number that came to my mind was around 100 mph. I mean, even 35 mph is pretty fast when you think about it. But let’s just say you were the passenger of a car going 110 mph down a two lane road, a freeway, or anywhere. Would you be legitimately scared for your life or would it be a major thrill? Or, would you even think anything of it? For me, I would honestly be crying in fear and screaming at the top of my lungs for the person to stop as I pee my pants the second he/she goes faster than I can handle. But, hey, that’s just me. I ponder on thoughts like this a lot, imagining myself in those types of frightful situations and what I would do being in that position. Before my accident, I didn’t think anything of going 110 mph. It wouldn’t have fazed me as a driver, or possibly even as a passenger. Now, I can’t even imagine it. As young drivers or even drivers in general, speed is a way of life. Everything is in fast motion. We are constantly in a hurry to get somewhere or meet someone. But is risking a life or two, or three, or who knows how many really worth getting somewhere on time? For some, speed is just for fun, not necessarily to get somewhere on time, but just because “fast is better.” As a driver, do you think about how fast you’re going? Do you think about how your passengers feel about how fast you’re going? And as a passenger, are you brave enough to let your driver know that their excessive speed is uncomfortable for you? Although the driver has control over their vehicle, don’t think that as a passenger you don’t have that same control. As a passenger you can have control without being behind the wheel just by saying “slow down.” If you ever head up the mountains towards Yosemite National Park there are these yellow warning signs on the side of the road that read “Speeding Kills Bears.” I always found this to be an interesting type of sign because it makes me think that every time you speed you are killing a bear, not necessarily its true intent where your speed could kill a bear because it could pop out in front of you and the impact of your excessive speed could end its life. Maybe that’s how we should think about speeding: That every time you speed, you are killing a cute furry little cub…or perhaps a human life. Think about your passengers as a driver and of course yourself, because you are risking lives every time you speed. -Danica

Posted on February 2, 2010 by Danica Lacy / 1 comment