Road Rage

16/11/08 | Posted by ellen

I have spent most of my driving life holding in emotions, trying to be patient, attempting to drive responsibly and avoiding making obscene gestures at my fellow 'travellers of the road'. Some of us are naturally calm and collected drivers, some of us lack discipline and need to be reminded of our vulnerability. That said, I am, so they tell me, a good driver and I have only had one minor prang (last Christmas I dented my mums car by driving very slowly into the back of a BMW - no damage done to the BMW!). But I have been feeling more vulnerable lately and I felt I wanted to move more gently around the world. As a result I have been trying out driving as if I was on my test - doing all the right things, right moves, right speed etc.

 jelly cars

Now, I know this is what we are supposed to do all the time - but do we really?

Well, I have discovered how irritating driving properly can be for other people. It seems to have provoked quite strong emotions in people - they have hooted, sworn, heckled, laughed and driven right up my bumper. I thought my responsible behaviour would be praised and welcomed . But, oh no I am experiencing scorn. So, what do I do? Save face and drive like a fool again or carry on with my endeavours?

I have made this driving confession not because I simply want to get it off my chest but because it has got me thinking about community and my response to it. Jesus didn’t have a car and the bible offers little direct advice about how to be a responsible driver - though there was the incident of donkey TWOCing. So, this is something we have to work out for ourselves. Obviously there is some general biblical advice about behaviour and social responsibility that will help us but we still need to interpret these. We need to take ownership of this advice for our everyday lives. But it is difficult. So, I am wondering how my driving can help me to move more gently around the world? How can I be a better driver?

For those of us who need a bit of help with this dilemma the Catholic Church has issued these ten commandments for the driver:

  I. You shall not kill.

  II. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.

  III. Courtesy, uprightness, and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.

  IV. Be charitable and help your neighbour in need, especially victims of accidents.

  V. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.

  VI. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fit condition to do so.

  VII. Support the families of accident victims.

  VIII. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.

  IX. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.

  X. Feel responsible towards others.

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