Sitting on the side of the highway with his radar gun, waiting to catch speeding drivers, a Tennessee State Police Officer sees a car puttering along a 22 mph. He thinks to himself, “This driver is just as dangerous as a speeder!” 

He turns on his lights and pulls the driver over. Approaching the car, the officer observed that there were five old ladies- two in the front seat and three in the back———wide eyed and white as ghosts.

The driver, obviously confused, says to him, “Officer, I don’t understand, I was going exactly the speed limit! What seems to be the problem?” “Madam, “ the officer replied, “You weren’t speeding, but you should be aware that going slower than the speed limit can also be a danger to other drivers.”

Slower than the speed limit? No sir, I was doing the speed limit exactly… Twenty-two miles an hour!” the old woman says proudly.

The State Police office, trying to contain a chuckle explains to her that “22” was the route number, not the speed limit on this highway. A bit embarrassed, the woman grins and thanks the officer for pointing out her error. I’m really sorry, sir. I’ll pay better attention in the future.”

“But before I let you go, Ma’am, I have to ask… is everyone in this car okay? These women seem awfully shaken and they haven’t muttered a single peep this whole time,” the officer asks.

“Oh, they’ll be all right in a minute or two, Officer. We just got off Route 119.”