The shifted norm referred to in the readings means that we have an acceptable level of conduct beyond what laws and regulations require. For example, the North Carolina State Troopers have a motto or speeding ticket philosophy that goes, "Nine you're fine; ten you're mine."

On the television show Speeders, the camera follows the reaction of drivers who are pulled over for speeding. One woman who was caught speeding on "Gator Alley," aka "Alligator Alley," aka I-75, in Florida, asked the officer who had pulled her over what the speed limit was. When he explained that it was \(70 \mathrm{mph}\), she then asked how fast she was going, and the officer responded, "Eighty-five." The woman then exclaimed, "That's not speeding. Look at all these cars going by. They are going faster than that!" She was relying on the shifted norm as a defense to exceeding the speed limit...................

Discussion Questions

1. Think of a response to each of the reasons drivers give for speeding.

2. What are the risks in speeding? Consider who is affected by your speeding

3. Two police officers were caught on photo radar traveling (in their police cars, but not with sirens on) at 72 and \(76 \mathrm{mph}\). The two officers were issued tickets. The policy of the police department was to require the officers to pay their own tickets when caught speeding on the job (when the sirens are not on, obviously) and to disclose the citations and officers' names to the public. When the media confronted the officers about speeding on the job, one responded, "We thought the speed limit was \(65 \mathrm{mph}\)." The speed limit was \(65 \mathrm{mph}\) normally in the photo-radar segment of the freeway, but construction work had it reduced to a \(55 \mathrm{mph}\) rate. As you think about this simple example of speeding, ask yourself whether in your business or personal life there might be other areas where you are speeding but the normative standards have shifted.

4. Consider these thoughts from a former student: You briefly cited an example of following the traffic laws, and the members of the class took it quite out of proportion, and indeed the general reaction turned out to be one of rationalizing. But something about what you said really caused me to consider that subject and, within those five minutes of discussion, form a resolve. You see, I had always been an exceedingly excessive speeder, to the point where, if caught, I could get in big trouble. This always surprised people to find out about me, but I think it developed in my first year at ASU, when I had an hour commute to campus. Regardless,
I terrified everyone but myself. But when you said of speeding, "Is it ethical?" it really took me aback. I looked at the fact of it itself: It is a law to follow the speed regulations, which are in place for safety and order. I looked at myself: someone who wants to be able to be ethical in all things and for all of her life. I realized that if I give room for allowances on what I know is wrong, then how can I know that those allowances won't grow? I could not allow it. And in those five minutes, when the class was going on about photo radar, I grasped an understanding of my speeding that had previously escaped me: It's just not ethical.

It has now been five months from that day, and I can report that for five months I have not exceeded the posted speed limit. It is something of which I am constantly aware, and though I often rely on my cruise control, I have seen that choosing to be ethical has given me strength to overcome other questions and situations. There have also been moments, as simple as that of peacefully coming to a stop at a red light, where I have been impressed with the thoughts, "That could have been a dangerous situation, but because you chose to follow the standards you are safe." I also notice that, though I may be running late or excited to get somewhere, I just have no desire to speed, and things, occurrences on the road, or actions by other drivers that may have previously upset me have no effect on me, maybe aside from chuckling at a reaction I may have seen myself having before. So I say thank you for your words and lessons, for I have seen a change in myself and a change in my life. What message does this student have for you?