(it's) better to be late than be dead on time

(it's) better to be late than be dead on time

It is better to move at a safe speed and arrive late than risk death or injury by going dangerously fast in order to arrive on time. Said especially of motorists. A: "Come on, step on it! We're going to be late!" B: "Relax, would you? Better to be late than be dead on time." Traffic can make it pretty difficult to get to work before 9 AM each morning, but I always take a deep breath and tell myself that it's better to be late than be dead on time. I just hope my boss feels that way, too.
See also: better, dead, late, on, time
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • arrive back
  • somewhere
  • arrive at the scene (of something)
  • land up at (some place)
  • come from
  • come from (someone or something)
  • land up in (something)
  • land up somehow or somewhere
  • land up
  • land up (some place)