NB This is a sponsored post
You might find this a shock – but despite my squeaky clean, mature image, it’s true, I have broken the law. And not just once – but numerous times!
The theme for this week’s confession is to “Blog Like Nobody’s Reading” – let’s hope the authorities aren’t reading this anyway!
I have a pretty good driving record. In fact I’ve only received one ticket in my thirty years of driving. It was way back when I was only 20 and I was running late for work, so when I needed to turn left, I treated a “Stop” sign as a “Give Way” sign – and didn’t come to a complete stop.
Unfortunately I got booked. Which admittedly I deserved, but what really ticked me off was the old guy hanging over his fence shaking his head and tutting me the whole time I was pulled over! (I wanted to smack him one so bad!).
Actually the copper made me almost as mad! He asked me why I ignored the road rule and so I told him I was running late for work – to which he replied: “Well now you’re going to be even later!” Humph.
Despite only being booked just the once, I wouldn’t go so far as to call myself a good driver. We all make mistakes, and I know I’ve broken the law more than just this once, while I’ve been behind the wheel of a car. I’ll bet you have too – it’s all too easy to get distracted and miss the pedestrian/s about to step out onto the zebra crossing; to somehow end up being quite a few kilometres over the speed limit; or to even run a light just as it’s turned red.
But the odd time I have *intentionally* broken the law, I blame it on mobile phones.
Now don’t panic, I’m not one of those people that texts and drives, or holds my phone up to my ear chatting away like a knob and using only one hand to steer the car.
But I *have* been known to check my phone for an incoming message while waiting at a red traffic light … and yes, it’s still illegal even if it seems slightly safer than using it while you are actually driving. If you were to ask personal injury or compensation lawyers like Motor Accident Legal Service, they’d tell you accidents involving phones account for the overwhelming majority of the cases they take on. We’ve all heard the news stories, seen the TV ads, and read the horrifying statistics – when it comes to mobile phones and driving, the solution is simple: DON’T!
I hereby vow that from this day forward I am going to mend my ways (and no, my fingers aren’t crossed behind my back, it’s too hard to type that way!) …
Now it’s your turn: have you ever broken the law – intentionally or accidentally?! And how’s your driving record?!
Linking up with My Home Truths.
I had an unblemished driving record until we moved to Perth. I was doing 55km in what I thought was a 60km area but I clearly missed the 50 km sign hidden behind a tree. The speed camera was hidden in the back of a white van with blacked out windows. The flash from the camera almost blinded.
Last year, I had a terrible time on the road. After ten years of and never getting a ticket, I received 3 tickets! The first one was for using my phone(the raid was more of a parking lot than a highway), but I was looking at the map and I was nervous about where I was going. The police officer was horrible to me, as I admitted straight away what I did and didn’t give him any cheak, but he was trying to moralize me. To make things worse, I was on the way to see my grandfather in hospital who was not in a good way. I ended up having a panic attack on the side of the highway in peek hour traffic. It will be something I will laugh about in the future, but the cop was a real jerk. I don’t deny I did the wrong thing, but he was overly aggressive when he booked me.
The second and third tickets were at the SAME fixed speed camera and I was booked for 110 & 111 in an 100 zone! Again, I know I did the wrong thing, but from where the camera is, i known it’s more about revenue raising than safety!
The only time I ever got stopped by the police while driving was in the same situation as you Janet. It would have been over 25 years ago. I was driving in a back street not far from home when I failed to stop at a stop sign and got booked. The police seemed to have set themselves up near the stop sign deliberately to catch people. It was very safe as there was no traffic but I’ve never done that again!
I completely agree about not using mobile phones while driving. It’s not worth the risk. We regularly see people who are obviously texting while driving and not paying attention. It makes driving a whole lot more risky for everyone on the roads! So thanks for doing your bit to discourage this dangerous habit Janet!
Let me count the ways … I’ve been pulled over and been chatted up by cops, been pulled over for doing the same as you did, pulled over for being in the left lane whilst turning right (thought it was allowed), pulled over for going slower than the rest of the traffic and yet got booked for speeding. I’ve forgotten about the rest or it never happened, either one, I cannot remember. I’ll never admit to breaking the law intentionally but plenty times accidentally. You’re right, not quite holy … yet. Nice post!
OMG my parents had one of those Datsuns when I was little! I have to laugh at your hair and pose! Snorts.
I’ve only ever received a parking ticket and a ticket for accidentally driving in a bus lane. Plus, once or twice when I still used prams I walked out of the supermarket with a rogue item I’d forgotten to pay for underneath. Oops.
I was going to say no, but yes I have checked my phone very quickly while stopped at red lights before. But its only when Im relying on my gps and don’t know where I’m going. I’d never check my phone whilst moving although I have driven with someone who was checking her phone the whole time while driving us and I was shatting my pants the entire time.
OK here goes……I once stole an eyeliner when I was about 15 (mum isn’t here to know this now – so I can confess). I stole the makeup and used it and hated it – my eyes watered and I feel remorse and self-hate from doing it. I did it because I wanted to keep up with my friends and didn’t have enough money. Taught me a lot, because although I wish I could say I have never had feelings of wanting to keep up again, because I have, but I can resist them much more easily now! #donttellanyone Mel xx
The other day I was late getting to the school so I did a slightly (OK totally) illegal U turn over double white lines so I could get to the right side of the road to park. Pf course there was a traffic ranger there giving parents flyers about driving safely in school zones. I didn’t get booked by I will never, ever do that again!