Rules for the Road

Virtually every one of us cuts some corner, drives a little too fast, and runs through a light that's changing from yellow to red because we don't have the patience to wait for our next opportunity.

We treat each other discourteously, press each other to go faster, and insult each other out loud or internally.

We all too often react in anger, sometimes even to the point of “road rage”.

We need to remember that those "obstacles" in the other cars around us are actually human beings, who are just as worthy of being treated with kindness and respect in their cars as they are in person.

We need to remember that God is in all the details of everyday life.

We know that God's laws apply everywhere and that there aren't virtue-free zones in our cars or anywhere else on earth.

These are the "Ten Commandments" for drivers from the Vatican:

1. You shall not kill.

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

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

4. Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents.

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

6. Charitably convince the young and not-so-young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.

7. Support the families of accident victims.

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

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

10. Feel responsible toward others.

Let us pray to the patron saints of travelers: Saint Christopher and our Guardian Angel.

Let us remember to always make the Sign of the Cross before setting out on our journey.

With the Sign of the Cross we put ourselves directly under the protection of the Holy Trinity.