The Rush of Speed
This wonderful picture that was featured on the home page of Pixabay gives such a great sense of movement and speed that it is almost dizzying to look at. I wonder why people enjoy the feeling of speeding along so much? I personally love roller coasters (and um, driving kinda fast), although I will draw the line at going fast DOWNWARD (no bungee jumping or skydiving for me, thanks)!
Is it the feeling of freedom, or maybe it almost gives us a sense of flying? I guess from an evolutionary standpoint, being able to go fast can get you out of danger, and it is quite a thrill to be able to go faster, albeit with mechanical assistance, than you ever could on your own, just running. And of course, you can go fast and not get tired!
Some people don't like to go very fast, though. How fast is "too fast" really varies from person to person. If I am on a long trip, I like to drive at least 70 mph in clear conditions, but I keep it under 80 mph. I think 80 is too fast to properly react if something happens with other cars. I *have* driven faster...120 mph *cough*. Nobody else was on the road at the time, but I do realize that was pretty crazy. Fortunately, I didn't drive that fast for more than a couple of minutes. And yes, I was sober!
I would happily go 80 mph or faster in a vehicle under safe and controlled conditions, though. Airplanes go very fast, but it's hard to tell because they are so high above the ground. The International Space Station orbits the Earth at 17,000 miles per hour. Now THAT'S fast!!
So, how fast have YOU driven? How fast is too fast?
Image Credit » http://pixabay.com/en/rails-railway-railroad-tracks-253134/ by jingoba
Comments
GemOfAGirl wrote on March 12, 2015, 1:16 AM
I hit 95mph once. I was in South Dakota at the time. The terrain is flat and the road I was on was mostly straight without any curves, and you can drive for an hour there and it won't feel like you've gone anywhere at all. I hadn't even realized that I'd been going that fast. And then I was astonished when another car passed me - that's when I glanced at my speedometer and realized how fast I was going. I'm usually pretty comfortable driving at 75 or even 80, if there's no other traffic around.
1wolfgirl569 wrote on March 12, 2015, 9:27 AM
I have hit over 100 before but am usually happy to go between 45 and 65. Some areas have to many deer to go faster then 45.
maxeen wrote on March 12, 2015, 11:29 AM
I was doing 90 in a 60s Zodiac. My passenger was on the floor on his knees. He was in prayer to his uncle, who was the Pope-the road was the esplanade-not very long stretch...
1pinkCardigangirl wrote on March 12, 2015, 12:20 PM
I don't drive fast at all. I keep it at speed limit. I don't want a ticket and I have my precious babies in the car. :) But when I was younger I wanted to skydive, and bungee jump. I'm not sure what I was thinking. I think I just wanted to prove that I was brave or something. lol
1SLGarcia wrote on March 12, 2015, 3:08 PM
I'm not very fond of driving too fast. I do enjoy traveling by plane and train at fast speeds though because I'm usually in a hurry to get where I'm going. When driving it depends on the car I'm in and whatever speeds the vehicle is capable of going without shaking too much. If the car is made for it, you often can't even feel the speed. I guess I've probably driven up to 90 on the open road in such a vehicle.
1scheng1 wrote on March 15, 2015, 9:43 AM
That's why I like to look out the window when the plane is taking off.