~by Pastor David Cunningham
To the delight of many drivers, the State of Iowa increased the speed limit on most rural roadways to 60 mph. To no one’s surprise this became permission for some drivers to think they can go 70 mph using the “They won’t stop me for going 10 mph over” mentality.
Even before the change, I witnessed numerous incidents at the NEW Coop facility at Cooper. Having been a truck driver, I know the challenge of “making your own gap” when entering a roadway with a slow-accelerating truck. Sometimes you enter knowing you are going to cause an oncoming vehicle to brake. The same is true for tractors pulling implements or grain wagons. You try to trust your eyes and judge their speed. 10-15 extra mph can make the difference between getting safely across an intersection or not.
My driving experience has taught me that most drivers are impatient; they don’t want to brake and would rather honk, flash their headlights, or use other means of showing their disgust. But this is IOWA: corn and soybeans drive the state’s economy. It would be nice if non-farm drivers would consider this. By the way, 60 mph is the upper limit of the speed of travel, not the lowest allowable speed.
So, this harvest season remember to cut the farmers and farm suppliers some slack. Yes, it is annoying when a large combine takes up both lanes of traffic (especially going through town). I doubt the few minutes of time you are slowing down and waiting to pass will significantly affect your life. Playing the fool likely will.
Psalm 106:3- “Happy are those who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times.”
