Drivers’ Ten Commandments From The Vatican

Well it seems that Politicians are not the only ones who feel they are experts when it comes to road safety. The Vatican recently released a document, titled Drivers’ Ten Commandments.

Although the document is more of a generic guide to driving, some of the commandments are, well, questionable. Firstly the document asks for driver to pray before driving, so I guess that rules me out.

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 that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.
9. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.
10. Feel responsible toward others.

Thankfully, the Vatican has made no direct remarks about speed, (we’d imagine the Australian transport authorities would have a field day with that) – however, point number 5 raises a few issues.

Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin – Firstly, no expression of power? I recently drove past a BMW M6 with the number plates “M POWER”, I guess he is going straight to hell!

As for domination, if it means there will be no hummers or other large 4WDs on Australian roads – we are all for it. However the last one is what interests me the most. Occasion of sin. I did wonder if this is a reference to Speeding, or having an adrenaline rush behind the wheel?

The author of the document, Cardinal Renato Martino, was asked to elaborate on the fifth commandment.

“when a car is used as a place for sin.”

I guess its left open to interpretation, but I’d imagine it would rule out making love in the back seat.

The document says:

“Cars particularly lend themselves to being used by their owners to show off, and as a means for outshining other people and arousing a feeling of envy,”

This is undoubtedly correct, however, is there anything really wrong with that? Italy is the home of the world’s best supercars, from Ferrari to Lamborghini to Maserati and Pagani – somehow I don’t think Ferrari will be donating any more cars to the Vatican!

Will this new set of commandments send Supercar resale prices down the drain? I highly doubt it.

Alborz Fallah

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