Food for Thought

mobusa

Master of my destiny
Donating Member
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Hi Folks,

Saw this on another site and thought it relavent. If it has been posted before, I apoligize.



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. Drive safely and carefully. Remember, cars are not the only things recalled by their maker
 
That will surely make you think!! Makes me want to go hug my little girl right now!!!
 
wow. Sort of stops you for a minute.
 
Wow, yeah, that makes you think...
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I've seen it before, but it's always a good read, and a reminder.
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Not asking you or anyone else to "buy it".  However, on both sides of the coin, "figures don't lie, BUT liars certainly do figure!!"  If you think whatever speed you ride is safe, so be it,  However, if you kill one of my kids or loved ones, because of stupidity and/or carelessness, well, lets just say you better be real good at hiding!
 
Not asking you or anyone else to "buy it".  However, on both sides of the coin, "figures don't lie, BUT liars certainly do figure!!"  If you think whatever speed you ride is safe, so be it,  However, if you kill one of my kids or loved ones, because of stupidity and/or carelessness, well, lets just say you better be real good at hiding!
I'm with you. It isn't about buying it. It is to stop and think about speeding in a place that hurt or kill someone else. If we want to gamble with our lives/health by speeding that is our choice. We shouldn't jeapordize anyone else.
 
Good story. Makes you think. If you want to drive fast, do it somewhere where you could have the least impact on someone else. I would feel a hell alot better knowing I killed myself then killing someone else because of negligence, stupidity, or carelessness.
 
very good....

it's not so much about buyin it....it's about takin time to think about the possible consequences of our actions.

An I'm with mobusa....you mow down one of mine, and I'll be huntin.



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Proving neglegence due to speed is difficult as the investigations generally only yeild estimates not absolutes. News flash, if your hit at anything over 25mph you are probably dead anyway. Time to set the national limit at 25mph.
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During the time I was in law enforcement, I responded to several fatal accidents in rural and urban settings.

My personal feelings on the stats is that the majority of fatal and serious accidents have driver inattention as the primary contributory factor. The alcohol factor does come into play, but it is amazing how many people kill other people while reaching for a dropped cigarette or a CD to put in their radio.

The times where speed seemed to come into play is when the surrounding area or roadway not very user friendly if you leave the roadway surface. like a twistie road lined with six foot diameter trees less than ten feet from the side of the road, parked cars, or a cliff......

One thing to ponder, most cops never call them "Accidents', they are "Crashes" An accident is something that could not have been prevented.
 
I think I am gonna print that one out and hang it over my bike...that way I will read it before I go on a ride. Keep it fresh on my mind.
 
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