It’s a shame it takes 25 minutes to get five miles in Starkville. Leaving 30 minutes early for the first day of class, I assumed I could get there on time.
However, as the old saying goes about assuming, I was indeed late by five minutes which was completely my fault. But the morning commute might be a little easier if those who like to drive 20 mph in the 35 mph speed zone would kindly drive in the right lane, which is designated the slow lane.
One must consider that drivers in the right lane may make right turns and that this probably is the reason that the right lane, rather than the left lane, is the slow lane. The left lane provides access to the turn lane. Typically this lane has arrows pointing in the direction in which drivers may turn. Contrary to popular belief, this lane, not the left lane itself, is for deceleration or stopping before turning. The right lane, the slow lane, does not have this fancy turn lane. It doesn’t need one.
However, this slow movement is not the only problem on the morning commute. U.S. Highway 82 is always backed up due to school traffic and buses. Miss. Highway 12 is always a little better, but I find two 18-wheelers up-shifting in both lanes on Miss. Highway 12 a bit absurd.
Here’s an idea-large trucks drive in one or the other and not both lanes. Imagine, two big rigs, one in the fast lane and one in the slow lane, blocking traffic. It drives me insane. This is a lose-lose situation. Why does driving to school in the morning have to be such a battle?
Sometimes you can get to class on time by traveling the back roads-places where the slow Starkvillians and the large trucks tend not to travel frequently, places where potholes are the size of Toyotas. Um, did someone say Blackjack Road? This route itself can be a battle of good car versus bad road, or in the case of most college students, mediocre car versus bad road. Indeed it can do some heavy damage to vehicles and cause a severe need for a realignment. This, of course, leads to loss of money-like college students have money to spare. And even if they do have money to spare, they would much rather spend it on something like soap, toilet paper, food or beer.
I guess I just cannot understand why people cannot drive the speed limit. Of course, driving safety is important and people should not drive 65 mph on the highway in a city or, in Starkville’s case, a town. But, the speed limit has been set at a very sensible speed.
Giving a car a little more gas will not hurt anyone. Just remember to stop for pedestrians, they have the right of way, but with that aside, speed up for crying out loud!