Straight To The Point

I've been caught speeding, like most people. It's hard to garner any sympathy, even from other people who have also been caught. However, there is still something very annoying at being caught doing, say, 37mph in a 30mph zone. However, I think I've discovered what it is that makes it so galling, even when your own conscience says "well, you shouldn't have been speeding!".

The problem is that speeding is not enforced consistently. If you do 70mph (the maximum legal speed) on a motorway, you are guaranteed to be in the slow lane being overtaken by everyone else. So here, speeding is the norm. But that's okay? The police are giving the drivers the benefit of their own judgement as to what the best speed is to go, and assuming you don't go excessively fast (say, 90mph or more) and don't drive dangerously, you're allowed to go at 80mph or so.

So why don't they apply the same criteria to all driving? That's what is annoying: sometimes you are allowed to make your own judgement at the best speed to go, based on driving conditions, and then on another bit of road - Bam! - 7mph over the limit and you're fined, regardless of the driving conditions.