‘Ten Commandments for Drivers’ Handed Down by Vatican

By Anastacia Mott Austin

In the land of the Ferrari, drivers have been warned against using their vehicles for "vanity and personal glorification," after the Vatican issued a 35-page document including ten commandments for responsible, virtuous driving.

Tuesday’s paper titled "Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of the Road" included such advice as praying at stop signs and not using one’s car as a "place of sin."

The text’s author, Cardinal Renato Martino, is the head of the Vatican’s office for migrants and itinerant people. Martino stated to the press that this office handles "itinerant" people of all kinds, including those traveling the roads.

Martino added to reporters that the World Health Organization has documented over 1.2 million traffic deaths per year. "That’s a sad reality," said Martino. "At the same time, a great challenge for society and the church."

The document included statements such as, "Cars tend to bring out the primitive side of human beings, thereby producing rather unpleasant results," and "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." It advocated for drivers to access their more "noble" characteristics while driving, like looking out for more "vulnerable" drivers and avoiding rude gestures, swearing, or taking the Lord’s name in vain.

There was no available information as to whether the Pope himself had approved of, or even seen the Ten Commandments for Driving. Seen by some as blasphemous, the document was signed only by Cardinal Martino and his secretary.

The Reverend Thomas Williams, a theological expert in Rome, rejected the notion that the idea of reproducing the Ten Commandments with drivers in mind was disrespectful to the original, telling reporters, "It might be a little flippant but it’s not sacrilegious."

Added Reverend Keith Picklers, professor of liturgy at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, "It may be surprising for people because we’re accustomed to the church speaking out about sexual matters, capital punishment, immigration. The point Cardinal Martino is making is that driving is itself a moral issue. How we drive impacts on the lives of ourselves and others."

The Ten Commandments for drivers are:

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 and 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 fit 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 towards others.

Online bloggers have added several commandments they wish had been incorporated in the list, including, "Thou shalt not drive with thine turn signal endlessly engaged," "Thou shalt not drive and simultaneously commune on thine cell phone," and "Thou shalt not tailgateth upon my rear."