What Slows Us Down

15 May 2026

No one likes driving behind a slow car. But I don’t mind driving behind a car that is keeping within the speed limit.

In fact, I’ve found that it sometimes helps me stay within the limit too—especially when passing through a school zone at 40 km/h. It’s surprisingly hard to maintain that speed, and most people, including myself, tend to go a little faster without realising it.

So what I’ve learned is that it can be better to simply follow a car that is driving at the correct speed—it helps keep me in check as well.

This happened today. On my way to school, I was following a car that was driving within the normal speed limit. I had the option to change lanes and overtake, but I chose not to.

As we entered the school zone, I knew I needed to slow down. Usually, it feels a bit early, and not everyone sticks strictly to the 40 km/h limit. But the cars in front of me slowed down naturally, and so did the ones in the other lane. I had no choice but to slow down as well.

A few seconds later, I realised why everyone was being so careful—there was a speed camera car parked on the right-hand side of the road.

I felt grateful for the car in front of me. In a small way, it helped me avoid a speeding ticket.

Sometimes, what slows us down is not there to block us, but to guide us—gently leading us toward a better path. 🍀