Dodging the RoadkillClarksville, Tn — The million dollar question these days is, “just how much over the speed limit can I go?”  Everybody has an opinion.

The truth is, only the cop who pulls you over knows for sure.

I hear this all the time:  “Well, I got a friend, who’s friend is a cop and he says you can do 10 mph over the limit” or “My cousin is a state trooper and he says you can do up to 20 mph over the limit.”

In reality, we all need to be careful, but we ALL push the limit of what we’re comfortable with.  I personally think that law enforcement gets more upset if you’re speeding in a school zone, or on an inner city street.  On the interstate, I feel that they don’t get too upset unless you’re trying to win the Daytona 500, or just plain driving like an idiot.

Honestly, I’ve had conversations with cops and while they won’t say specifically, the general rule of thumb is 10 mph over the limit.  Just the other day, I was with a couple of cops who told me that generally, on the interstate, they don’t get too anxious unless you’re doing 20 mph over the limit.

Fact is, there’s no set rule about it one way or another.  The law is the law.  Speed at your own risk.

Ideally, I remember when doing five miles per hour over the limit was where we were at.   Nobody drives the speed limit on the interstate.  If you do, you’re causing a major malfunction to the cars behind you.

In the short time I’ve been a biker, Texas has the highest speed limit of any state I have visited so far.  God I love Texas!

I don’t encourage or condone you or anyone to break the law.  I don’t encourage you or anyone to drive like an idiot, but unfortunately, those “idiots” are all over the interstate.  It’s a dangerous place for everybody, not just bikers.  There’s more traffic, more trucks, and WAY too many people driving distracted.  It WILL be the death of us all.  #cellphone

So while we all try to figure out how we can avoid a speeding ticket, we need to be more conscious of how we can drive more responsibly.  To pay better attention to our surroundings, and to not endanger ourselves and others.  Pick your speed and drive at your own risk.

Ride on brother!