I want to preface this with something crucial: the Ten Commandments are part of a document called THE PASTORAL CARE OF MIGRANTS AND ITINERANT PEOPLE: "GUIDELINES FOR THE PASTORAL CARE OF THE ROAD"
It's amazing how much the media glosses to get to the goods. I have quite a few topics to address below. Note: the "Drivers' Ten Commandments" are just Guideline #61 in 165 guidelines.
Drivers’ “Ten Commandments”
61. In any case, with the request for motorists to exercise virtue, we have drawn up a special “decalogue” for them, in analogy with the Lord’s Ten Commandments. These are stated here below, as indications, considering that they may also be formulated differently.
- You shall not kill.
- The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.
- Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.
- Be charitable and help your neighbour in need, especially victims of accidents.
- Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.
- Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.
- Support the families of accident victims.
- Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.
- On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.
- Feel responsible towards others.
I've been thinking for some time about the DC mentality of the road. I concluded quite some time ago that the overall mentality is "This is my road, and you're in my way." Really... spend a day driving around the Beltway, down 95, around 66 and the Fairfax County Parkway. Guaranteed you won't pass three highways without getting cut off, beeped at, or tailed at least once.
My dad would always laugh at the cars that sped up and around us just to get one car ahead. "Going nowhere fast" and "Racing to the red light" were his mantras.
There is nothing wrong with a serious review of our driving abilities. The last Pope was known for his ability to challenge people across the world, despite religious affiliation. I believe that's true here. Some may consider this invasive. I think, in the least, it's thought provoking. I don't think there exists a driver who hasn't been affected by road rage, and it's more common than not to know someone who died of an accident involving drunk driving. I do. One mother of three... gone in a blink. A high school-aged girl with no mother to see her dress for the Prom or walk for Graduation.
I delivered flowers for about a year. I'll be the first to admit that it's really easy to get an attitude when someone tails you for 2 miles, lays on the horn, then zooms off after one lane turns to two. Because things happen so quickly on the road, it's all hinging on response.
How do you respond to a wreckless driver that you see in your rearview? Sometimes, I get this vein of vengeance... I slow down, preventing the rager from zooming off and causing more worrry. But the motives behind my action are not right. I'm expressing my power over this person. But, am i protecting someone else?
Expletives?
I never thought having a sunroof would be a negative experience, but I'm enjoying the sunny day, and a truck in a hurry thinks my 5-over-the-speed-limit is unacceptable, so he lets me know it. Sunny day doesn't seem so sunny.
What's your feedback?
- veins of vengeance towards road ragers
- tailgating
- expletives and birds
- Good Samaratin stops and stories
- accidents
- how about the study from NPR that in 90% of truck-car accidents, the death is in the car?
- cutoffs and cruise buttons
- SUVs
- traffic and the faster lane
- going nowhere fast/racing to the red light
- road rage ... I've done it, have you?
- What do you consider "road rage"?
No comments:
Post a Comment