I'll Take A Mile

ICMYI - the Parti Quebecois last month was pushing the Liberal government to boost speed limits on Quebec highways to 120 km/hr. The PQ says, if that happened, police would be required to strictly enforce the raised limit. They argue that to leave current limits at 100 km/hr is “hypocrisy” because that speed limit is not enforced by police.

The PQ insists it’s widely known that Quebec motorists can routinely drive at 115 to 120 without worry of getting a speeding ticket.

I’m fine with that. In fact, I’m great with that!

When I drive at 115 or 120, which I have been known to do, I feel like I am one reckless renegade, pushing the limits of the law to their breaking point. I suddenly have wind in my thinning hair, dark sunglasses, a black leather jacket, with Steppenwolf blaring from the radio as I scoff, grittily, in the direction of authority.

I know full well that if the posted speed limit were 120 km/hr, I’d stupidly, and inevitably, go faster than that. That’s just the kind of idiot I am.

I know me.

Give me an inch and I will take a mile, please. Here is a case in point; even the 75 mph speed limit in Montana wasn’t good enough for me. I was cruising along at 94 mph when the state trooper pulled me over. Even now, as Montana debates raising the speed limit on its interstates to 80, I know when I visit that state, I will be compelled to drive just a little faster.

Here in Quebec, it’s perfect the way it is; the 100 km/hr speed limit has reasonable discretion built-in for police and I get to wallow in the illusion of being a rebel of the most rebellious sort, a non-conformist conforming.

Driving at 120 in a 100 km/hr zone, I am living on the edge with virtually no uncontrollable itch to drive at 130. Change the speed limit to 120, however, and my neatly stacked pile of speeding tickets is liable to get bigger.

Far better to leave well enough alone.