Speeding

So there is this sign on the street right before you get to my house (see picture to the left). The speed limit it 25 miles per hour and it is a sign that reads your speed, shows it on the sign and then says "Slow Down" with varying levels of flashing intensity depending on how far over the speed limit you are. But I've decided that someones reaction to this flashing "slow down" sign is very telling about their personality...

1. Slowing Down- This reaction could mean a couple of things: a high level of responsibility (although this is still arguable), a severe fear of authority (these people are fun especially if you are in some type of authority, I like having people drop and gimme 50), a safety-freak (these are the type of drivers that are so nervous about driving that they are more bound to get themselves in an accident because of it), a dramatic reaction to a ticketing "incident" (that they will gladly tell very uninterested friends about for hours), or that you drive a minivan (I swear, even if those cars had rocket boosters attached, they would still hoover around 30 miles per hour due to the reach-around-slapping that's probably happening inside the van)...
   
2. Ignoring it and continuing at the same speed- This reaction normally means that you are singing in your car, texting, talking on the phone and are oblivious to most anything, especially a blinking sign, to realize that their safety and the safety of others might be in jeopardy. The "me-monsters" of society who walk around with virtual blinders to others... these are the same people that Brian Regan talks about loading their gargantuan baggage in the over-head compartments. Or, it could mean that they have a "who cares" approach to authority. These people, even if they get caught and get a ticket, would probably pay it... and go back to just what they were doing before... cuz seriously... "who cares."
   
3. Speeding up- These are the line-walking, mountain-dew-doing, ruckus-raising daredevils. These people want to see how fast that little flash can go... basically trying to get that sign to yell at them (probably because it is easier to have a sign yell, than a real person). The ironic thing is that they normally are going the speed limit to begin with, and not usually found breaking any major laws in general. But the opportunity for them to naughty in a very low-risk way is ultimately satisfying.
   

So there you have it... in all honesty I really think that a sign like the one to the right is a more realistic sign to post if you really want someone to slow down. It says it all, and wipes silly smiles off people's faces as they consider the three options. But it isn't nearly as fun and as telling as a flashing sign. So if you see me out sitting by the sign with a notepad and camera in hand... it's because I'm scouting out potential friends.

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