The story
Speeding along I-5 at 95mph (sorry, Mom!), I peak at my phone.
It says I’ll arrive at my destination at 11:14am.
“Sweet!” I mutter to myself. “I’ll make it in under 5 hours and 15 minutes.”
I was driving back to SF after 48 hours in LA. My plan to leave before sunrise to beat the traffic was working.
Then up ahead, I see the worst case scenario – a mac truck in the right hand lane and 3 cars stacked to its left.
And the car in the lead was in no hurry.
I watch the speedometer as I approach them…95…87…79…71..
The guy was barely driving the speed limit! ARRRGHHH!!!
FINALLY, after what seemed like hours, we get a bit of daylight between the lead car and the truck.
The second car moves to the right lane, but doesn’t pass.
Then the third car does the same, but also doesn’t pass.
Thoroughly confused why they weren’t passing Step ‘n Fetch It, I look up to see if I can get around all three of them and that’s when I saw it.
A big badge painted on the back of the lead car with sirens on top.
“You’ve got to be kidding me!!!!”
Resigned, I muttered, “Well, hopefully Mr. California Highway Patrol will get off at the next exit.”
He didn’t.
For the next 30 miles, a steady stack of cars piled up behind Mr. CHiPs, all of us doing 71 mph down I-5 in the left lane. The line was long enough that I couldn’t see the end of it.
Around mile 32, I see a dark blue mustang barreling down the right hand lane.
There was no sign of him slowing down. As he whizzes past me, I get excited for the show (and for CHiPs to finally get out of our way to go chase this guy down).
You can imagine my amazement when the mustang blew by the cop and no lights or sirens flipped on. I waited…nothing. What was going on?!?!
Then the car in front of me got brave and decided to pass the cop car ever so delicately, presumably thinking the same thing I was – maybe Mr. ChiPs had better things to do.
After she successfully passes the cop, I decide to follow her lead.
As my speedometer crept up to 76 mph I get close enough to the patrol car to see…wait for it… wait for it… ready?…
“PREMIERE SECURITY SYSTEMS” stamped underneath the “badge”.
YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!! I couldn’t stop laughing.
At least 20 other drivers were slowed to a snail’s pace for over 30 miles because the driver behind the rent-a-cop couldn’t read!
The lesson
For me the lesson is trust, but verify. Don’t 100% rely on the crowd’s opinion, experience – or reading skills – to make decisions for you.
Do your own homework and make your own decisions.
(For the record, I still made it home in 5 hours and 20 minutes.)
