Where in the constitution does it say that driving at 120mph with a follow plane in the middle of nowhere, with no one around, is putting people at risk?

Seriously though, and don’t take this the wrong way, but maybe you might enjoy getting out of your cubicle environment – and out of extremely over-populated roads – for a weekend and go for a drive to see what the country is really like.

I’ve driven cross-country several times, and you are not only in little or no contact with anyone, you also are much more attentive and and aware of your surroundings while “speeding”.

Alex is right, the people that you should be scared of are the people going 10mph below the speed limit on their cell phones, and not paying attention.

Do you speak on a cell phone while driving, Eric? Are you completely aware of your surroundings at all times while on the road? These are questions you should ask yourself…

I think it would be great if there were a way to monitor a persons awareness or ultimately “attention levels” while driving that would determine that persons speed limit, but unfortunately there isn’t, so the state enforces rules that apply to the masses.

BTW, the people that are supposed to be enforcing the rules are usually the ones breaking the rules when it isn’t necessary. Alex unquestionably is a more skilled driver than any police you will find on the road.

Richard D.-Music producer Miami, Fl

With regard to your demographic, I suspect one way to segment would be: responsible, law-abiding adults concerned about the health and safety of the community vs. irresponsible, devil-may-care, what’s-in-it-for-me kids.

The Fast & the Furious? Mindless entertainment for juvenile minds… just like this stunt.

Once, a few years ago, I drove from Lawrence, KS, to Columbia, MO, via K-10/I-435/I-70, 165 miles in 95 minutes, averaging 104 mph. I’ve also driven at high speeds all across the Midwest, where roads are wide and traffic usually sparse. So I have some idea of what’s involved in driving safely at high speed on American roadways. (Mainly it’s set the cruise at 125 and curse at traffic.)

The essential problem is that most people never learn how to drive safely. They get their licenses out of a Crackerjack-box DMV which hands them out like candy to anyone who can drive 25 mph, pretend to use turn signals and parallel park.

Driving schools exist all over the country which teach the skills needed for safe high speed driving, but the knowledge is too specialized and not generally available to the average person. The irony is that you can learn the essentials of what you need to know in a few days of classroom instruction and track driving, while America’s high schools spend months to teach teenagers how to “drive.” It’s a complete waste of your property tax dollars and it benefits no one.

Oh, did I mention speed limits in most areas are set far too low? Even the average untrained driver who’s been on the road for a while can manage to drive safely at 75-80 mph in rush hour traffic. The highways are designed for it. But the bureaucracy makes too much money on “speeding” fines (levied against people who were probably driving too slowly!) to set highway speed limits at reasonable levels.

I understand your concern, and can only say that I - who had, have and now see in a way my younger self did not - always had something to live for other than my ego, which was why, given the countless, second-to-second choices during the run, didn’t commit to decision which might have saved weightless minutes at the risk of that nightmarish catastrophe which plagued every waking moment between the decision to go and the moment of arrival…

Which is why I, who now treasure those slow moments in traffic listening to music, never speed. I’ve done the math.

Best, Alex

Given that we drove 2/3rds of the route at night, on a route reconnoitered for minimal traffic levels, on a holiday weekend when historical traffic volume data suggested bare minimum traffic levels, when we - unlike 99% of motorists - often used the CB to radio ahead to trucks for permission to pass, when we - in possibly only the second time such an effort was made - used a spotter plane to check conditions ahead before making speed/safety decisions….and when virtually no one noticed our passage then, or recalled our passage until we went public, I’m not sure one can say we endangered thousands.

Although I’m no apologist for our actions, I think - given what I witness every day when I’m not speeding, AND what I witnessed during our run - the average American motorist, lacking training, using a cellphone, doing their nails, reading the paper, and watching dvds while driving, is almost certainly endangering more people over the course of their driving “career” than we were over the three days for which we spent several years preparing.

FYI - my European relatives think I drive like an old lady, at least now.

Best, Alex

Also, I 100% agree with your comment on trying to appeal to everyone…it does end up bland. Just like political correctness and insurance agents bleed all flavour from life.

This is one of the biggest reasons I have given up on mainstream media/news/etc. Written by idiots for idiots in so many instances. The other reason is quality of content is so much higher when it is written by people with passion…such as you find on blogs.