Driving at High Speed - Essay Example

of the English of the Teacher 16 March Driving and Speed There is no denying the fact that driving at high speed is an experience that exhilarates and thrills a great many people and given a chance, there is no dearth of individuals who would like to get engaged in driving at high speed. It is the element of risk and thrill inherent in high speed driving that makes driving at high speed a coveted and exciting experience. No wonder, if one tries to ascertain as to what happens to be the most commonly infringed law in the United States of America, almost a majority of the people will refer to driving over the speed limit, as there are only a few people who have never violated a speed limit at some time or other in their life. This is indeed a shocking realization in the face of the fact that people do prefer to drive at high speed and break speed limits irrespective of being aware of the fact that high speed driving could not only lead to accidents, but many a times the consequences of driving at high speed could turn out to be really disastrous and serious. This seems to be even more disturbing, going by the fact that people do know that speed can kill, still they choose to engage in a risky driving behaviour. People should really desist from driving at high speeds because not only the reasons for which people engage in high speed driving are most of the times unreasonable and unrealistic, but driving at high speed also enhances the probability of getting involved in an accident and augments the risk of fatality. People tend to engage in high speed driving or they break speed limits owing to an array of reasons that tend to be flimsy and unreasonable. A pressing sense of urgency nudging the mind to drive at a high speed, the heart beating fast with the apprehension of missing a coveted deadline or fearing arriving late at a venue that needs to be approached in time, the hands pressed hard at the steering wheel with sweaty palms, the feet going hard on the accelerator, bent hard on being in time, the desire to be in time at a venue or the fear of getting late is one of the primary reasons that makes people drive fast or break speed limits. The thrill and risk inherent in driving at high speed is the other reason that makes people drive fast. The surge of adrenalin rushing fast through the veins, the rhythmic and incessant beating of the heart, the fast blowing wind pressing hard against the face, blowing the hair back, the glazed and watering eyes trying to focus hard as the vision gets bleary and it gets difficult to focus, the constant ringing in the ears making the mind go numb as the automobile rushes ahead at high speed, making the adjoining scenery seem go hurtling behind as the sweaty hands try to get a grip over the steering, who is impervious to this thrill and joy inherent in high speed driving? Many people drive at high speed to experience this innate sense of thrill and adventure. Then there are others who believe that the glaring speed limit sign visible even to the most challenged vision is something that needs to be adhered to by lesser mortals, or the dedicated traffic police personnel patrolling the highways will somehow come across a fit of leniency and negligence and will utterly miss seeing their bravados with speed or the incessant pleadings of the concerned agencies regarding the risks inherent in high speed driving are something that should neither be listened to nor watched, many people drive fast and dare to betray speed limits, believing they can get away with it. No matter what are the reasons that make people drive fast, are they the fear of getting late, or the thrill inherent in high speed driving or the belief that they can get away with speed associated trespasses, it is indeed irrational and unreasonable to risk one’s life motivated by such facile beliefs and reasons. High speed driving enhances the probability of getting involved in an automobile accident (Sandler 39). Just consider the sight that the commuters sometimes come across on highways, the badly mangled automobiles with their metal chasses blasted into shreds of twisted and torn metal ribbons, the splintered windshield sprawled and scattered all over, the hooting of police sirens intimidating and scaring the nerves, the slow moving traffic meandering past the sight of such a mayhem, a standing testament to the danger inherent in playing with speed, the sight of a road accident is something that not only humbles the human panache for thrill, but also warns the humanity against the risks inherent in driving at fast speed. This is a fact amply corroborated by commonsensical observation that driving at high speed does enhance the possibility of getting involved in some serious road accident (Sandler 39). Just imagine the plight of a speeding driver, pressing hard on the accelerator, motivated by the desire to savour a movement of thrill and exhilaration, the whole body gripped in a taut tension, stimulated by an intimidating mix of tension and stress, the speeding automobile cruising along on the road, whirring past the unsuspecting daily commuters, when suddenly a moment of crises strikes and the speeding driver lost in a mix of thrill and excitement suddenly finds that one is totally unable to control and navigate the speeding automobile, thereby culminating in a gory and wretched crash, endangering both the lives of the driver given to speed and the unsuspecting fellow commuters, being victims of the lack of caution on the part of a speeding driver. Speed does enhance the chances of getting involved in an accident. Driving at high speed also augments the risk of fatality (Sandler 27). It is a fact that even if the automobile drivers adhere to speed limits, road accidents are something that is here to stay. Yet, the thing is that accidents accrued at very high speeds do have a higher chance of serious and grave fatalities (Sandler 27). The scenes often portrayed in television telecasts of fatal road accidents, the blaring ambulances rushing to the sight of fatality, the flustered paramedics trying their best to resuscitate the battered driver and other passengers, the haste evinced by the paramedics to rush the injured driver and fellow passengers to the nearest trauma centre as fast as possible, the shocked bystanders and enervated police officers is something that could happen to anybody who is habitually given to driving at high speed. Accidents accrued at high speeds do have a higher rate of fatality. Hence, the thing that needs to be understood is that irrespective of the nonsensical reasons people give for driving at high speed and betraying speed limits, no consideration dilutes the fact that human life is indeed precious and it is not worth endangering one’s life and the lives of others by driving in a non-serious manner. Driving at high speed increases the possibility of getting involved in road accidents. Besides, speeding also enhances the risk of fatality. Therefore it is indeed wise to not to engage in high speed driving, encouraged by flimsy reasons, and eventually ending up getting involved in fatal road accidents. Works Cited Sandler, Martin W. Driving Around the USA. New York: Oxford University Press, 2007. Print. Read More