From Hypocrisy to Responsibility: A Courier's Journey

I used to believe myself to be a hypocrite when it came to dangerous driving. As a vehicle courier, I would often speed at unsafe rates, believing that I could handle the higher speeds more safely than others. Little did I know that my actions were putting not only my own life at risk, but also the lives of others on the road. It wasn't until a few months ago that I realized the error of my ways and decided to change.

My Change of Heart

Every morning, before even fastening my seatbelt, I would plug my phone in and dial 999. I would enter the number but refrain from pressing it, waiting for the moment when reckless drivers were a threat on the roads. I would call the police on those travelling well over the legal speed limit, even at 100mph, because reckless driving causes fatalities and endangers lives. I used to justify my actions by claiming that I could handle the higher speeds, even accelerating to 120mph and above, while driving on motorways without a moment's hesitation. However, my newfound responsibility has made me realize that I, too, was the reckless one, far more so than most of the other drivers on the road.

The Road to Realization

Looking back, I had a plethora of excuses and justifications. I believed that those on the road cannot handle the speed that I can, I had memorized the locations of all speed cameras, and I only did it on certain sections of the motorway under specific circumstances. I had even received a rigorous training from my driving instructor, a retired police pursuit instructor, and only drove a well-maintained, recently serviced car. However, these conditions did not excuse my unsafe behavior. It took me until a few months ago to understand that my actions were put me at risk and that they were not as safe as I had thought.

A New Perspective

Now, I strive to go home to my wife safely at the end of the day, rather than ending up as a tragic loss on the road. I have to actively think about the speed limit before entering any road or motorway. I know all the speed limits by heart, but now I have to explicitly remind myself as I drive. “Ian, you are about to enter the motorway. The speed limit is 70 mph. That means you must not drive faster than 70 mph. Not 72 or 75 until the next speed camera. It. Means. 70.”

Conclusion

It has been a challenging journey for me, but one that I am committed to. Tomorrow, I will be moving a Lamborghini, and while the thought of driving at high speeds is tempting, I now have a new mindset. I will be mindful of the speed limit, ensuring both my safety and the safety of others on the road. This shift in behavior was hard to adopt, but it is a small price to pay for the peace of mind and the safety it brings.