Friday, March 03, 2006

I Can't Drive 55!

One foot on the brake and one on the gas, hey!
Well, there's too much traffic, I can't pass, no!
So I tried my best illegal move
Well, baby, black and white come and touched my groove again!

Gonna write me up a 125
Post my face wanted dead or alive
Take my license, all that jive
I can't drive 55!
Oh No!

Uh!

So I signed my name on number 24, hey!
Yeah the judge said, "Boy, just one more... We're gonna throw your ass in the city joint" Looked me in the eye, said, "You get my point?"
I said Yea!, Oh yea!

Write me up a 125

Post my face wanted dead or alive
Take my license, all that jive

I can't drive 55!
Oh, yea!

I can't drive 55!
I can't drive 55!
I can't drive 55!
I can't drive 55!
Uh!

-solo-
When I drive that slow, you know it's hard to steer.
And I can't get get my car out of second gear.
What used to take two hours now takes all day. Huh!
It took me 16 hours to get to L.A.


Gonna write me up a 125
Post my face wanted dead or alive
Take my license, all that jive
I can't drive 55!
No, no no,
I can't drive...
(I can't drive 55!)
I can't drive...
(I can't drive 55!)
I can't drive 55!

-- "I Can't Drive 55", by Sammy Hagar


Anyone that's driven with me knows this is my theme song while driving... and 90% of those same people think I'm DWC - Driving While Crazy. I respectfully disagree.

I grew up in a city that's too busy to hate because we're constantly trying to hurry up and get somewhere. If there's a traffic jam, I've come to accept that I am going to be travelling somewhere between 2-10 miles per hour for a little time. That's fine. When traffic opens up, however, this is my chance to make up that time and possibly make it to my destination on time for a change.
Are policies and laws created to control traffic, or does traffic create laws and policies? When you are speeding down the road, isn't it just plain instinct to hit your brakes when you see a police officer on the side of the road - regardless of if you are actually speeding or not?

Does speed kill? Nope - incapable drivers kill. Driving fast doesn't automatically make you a "good" driver. My father and I have talked on several occasions about making a second class of driver's license, allowing these drivers to drive at a speed above the posted speed limit because they have deomonstrated the ability to handle themselves in emergency situations and another battery of tests. Your license plate would be designated with a special tag on the front and rear of your car so that people would see you in their rear view mirror, as well as in front of them.
A convoluted idea, maybe. But there has to be something better than the way in which police officers arbitrarily enforce traffic laws. If you are speeding, switching lanes without notice, cutting people off left and right, etc. then by all means pull them over and give them a citation. And if you click on the "I Can't Drive 55" link at the top, you will see why 55 isn't the answer either.

As for me... I'll keep on driving like I drive - if you see a VW emblem in your rear view, consider getting out of it's way - it might be me!